Lawrenceville in Brunswick County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
REMOVED
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Saint Paul's College
Lawrenceville, Virginia
— Brunswick County —
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 18, 2010
1. Saint Paul's College CRIEHT Marker
Inscription.
Saint Paul's College. Lawrenceville, Virginia. Saint Paul’s College began as a small parochial school founded by a newly ordained Episcopal deacon, the Rev. James Solomon Russell. Born into slavery, Russell attended seminary school in Petersburg. Within a year of graduation he had managed to raise enough funds to buy land in Brunswick County and erect a simple building on it to start his school. This two-room building still stands today and is referred to as the Saul Building, after the Rev. James Saul of Philadelphia, an important donor to the school. In 1893 the school had grown into the Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School. In the ensuing years, Russell traveled worldwide speaking and raising funds for the college until his retirement in 1928. The school’s name changed again to Saint Paul’s Polytechnic Institute in 1941, when it was granted the authority to offer a four-year degree program. At this time, Russell’s son, Dr. J. Alvin Russell, succeeded him as president of the college. Following in his father’s footsteps, the younger Russell continued to expand the college. In 1957 it became known as Saint Paul’s College, a fully integrated, four-year liberal arts institution, offering such courses as pre-law and pre-medicine. From 1971 to 1981, Dr. J. Alvin Rusell Jr. became the third generation of Russells to serve as president of the college.
Saint Paul’s College began as a small parochial school founded by a newly ordained Episcopal deacon, the Rev. James Solomon Russell. Born into slavery, Russell attended seminary school in Petersburg. Within a year of graduation he had managed to raise enough funds to buy land in Brunswick County and erect a simple building on it to start his school. This two-room building still stands today and is referred to as the Saul Building, after the Rev. James Saul of Philadelphia, an important donor to the school. In 1893 the school had grown into the Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School. In the ensuing years, Russell traveled worldwide speaking and raising funds for the college until his retirement in 1928. The school’s name changed again to Saint Paul’s Polytechnic Institute in 1941, when it was granted the authority to offer a four-year degree program. At this time, Russell’s son, Dr. J. Alvin Russell, succeeded him as president of the college. Following in his father’s footsteps, the younger Russell continued to expand the college. In 1957 it became known as Saint Paul’s College, a fully integrated, four-year liberal arts institution, offering such courses as pre-law and pre-medicine. From 1971 to 1981, Dr. J. Alvin Rusell Jr. became the third generation of Russells to serve as president of the college.
Erected by
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Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail®. (Marker Number 39.)
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 36° 45.689′ N, 77° 51.017′ W. Marker was in Lawrenceville, Virginia, in Brunswick County. Marker was on College Drive, 0.1 miles north of Windsor Avenue (Virginia Route 46), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Lawrenceville VA 23868, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. On the left panel are three photos with the captions:
"(Top Left) Graduating class of 1921."
"(Center Left) Woodshop class circa 1920."
"(Bottom Left) Group shop circa 1929."
In the center are a map of the CRIEHT locations and a photo of "(Center Panel) The Saul Building, 1972."
On the right is a photo of "(Above) The Rev. James Solomon Russell circa 1925."
Photos courtesy of Saint Paul’s College Archives.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location titled "Saint Paul's College and James Solomon Russell-Saint Paul's College Museum".
May 18, 2010
3. Center panel
May 18, 2010
4. Right panel
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 18, 2010
5. Saint Paul's College CRIEHT Marker
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, May 18, 2010
6. Saint Paul's College
7. Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail® Map
Appomattox County
1. Winonah Camp/Mozella Price Home
2. Carver-Price School
3. Education in 1800's Rural Virginia
Buckingham County
4. One-Room Schoolhouse
5. Carter G. Woodson Birthplace
Cumberland County
6. Hamilton High School
7. Rosenwald School at Cartersville
8. Jackson Davis
Amelia County
9. Russell Grove Presbyterian Church and School
10. Mrs. Samantha Jane Neil
Chesterfield County
11. Virginia State University
Petersburg
12. Earliest Known Public High School for African Americans in Virginia
13. McKenney Library
14. The Peabody-Williams School
Dinwiddie County
15. Southside Virginia Training Center
16. Rocky Branch School
17. Early Education in Dinwiddie County
Nottoway County
18. Blackstone Female Institute
19. Mt. Nebo Church
20. Ingleside Training Institute
Lunenburg County
21. The People's Community Center
22. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church Christian Day School
Prince Edward County
23. Prince Edward County Public Schools
24. R. R. Moton High School
25. Farmville Female Seminary Association
26. First Baptist Church
27. Beulah AME Church
28. Hampden-Sydney College
Charlotte County
29. Southside Virginia Community College - John H. Daniel Campus
30. Charlotte County Library
31. Salem School
Halifax County
32. Meadville Community Center
33. Mary M. Bethune High School
34. Washington-Coleman Elementary School
35. Mizpah Church
Mecklenburg County
36. Thyne Institute
37. Boydton Academic and Bible Institute
Brunswick County
38. Southside Virginia Community College - Christanna Campus 39. Saint Paul's College
40. Hospital and School of the Good Shepherd
41. Fort Christanna
Credits. This page was last revised on November 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,345 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 19, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.