North Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Manassas High School / The Cora P. Taylor Auditorium
Photographed By Steve Masler, August 30, 2015
1. Manassas High School/The Cora P. Taylor Auditorium Marker
Manassas High School
Manassas High School was established by Spencer Johnson and others in 1899 on the west side of Manassas Street. Originally a two-room framed structure in 1900, more rooms were added between 1902 and 1904. In 1918, a 16-room stucco building was erected. Additional improvements were made between 1920 and 1980. In 1924 Manassas High School, known as one of the largest Rosenwald schools and the first four-year accredited public school for Blacks in the county school system, graduated its first senior high school class.
The Cora P. Taylor Auditorium
The Cora P. Taylor Auditorium was erected in 1927. It was named in honor of Mrs. Cora Price Taylor (1885-1932), who served as the first high school principal of Manassas from 1909-1929. She personally hauled bricks by truck from Millington to help build the auditorium that hosted school assemblies, public affairs and community events. In 1976, this historic auditorium was demolished to make room for improvements to Manassas High School
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 146.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education.
this page online
Location. 35° 10.244′ N, 90° 1.912′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in North Memphis. Marker is on N. Manasass Street just south of Wells Ave.. This marker is located in front of Manassas High School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 N Manassas St, Memphis TN 38107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Isaac Hayes (a few steps from this marker); North Memphis Driving Park (approx. 0.3 miles away); Porter-Leath Children's Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); American Studios / Elvis Presley at American Studios (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Brick Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); William Herbert Brewster, Sr. (approx. ¾ mile away); Burkle Estate (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Memphis 13/Gordon Elementary School (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.
Also see . . . The Hiistory of Manassas. (Submitted on August 31, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.)
Additional commentary.
1. Rosenwald Schools
Manassas was one of the Rosenwald
Photographed By Steve Masler, August 30, 2015
2. Manassas High School/The Cora P. Taylor Auditorium Marker
"The Rosenwald School Program
Who was Julius Rosenwald and what is being done to preserve the historic Rosenwald Schools?
In 1917, Julius Rosenwald established and endowed with $20 million, the Julius Rosenwald Fund for the "well being of mankind." After Julius Rosenwald stepped down as Sears president in 1924, he devoted most of his time to philanthropy. Over the course of his life, he donated millions of dollars to public schools, colleges and universities, museums, hospitals and clinics, relief agencies, scientific research, the fine arts, social settlements and other causes.
One of Rosenwald’s legacies is his philosophy of philanthropy. He believed that philanthropic funds should be used to provide the greatest benefit to mankind, rather than glorify the benefactor.
Rosenwald Schools
The Rosenwald rural school building program was a major effort to improve the quality of public education for African Americans in the early twentieth-century South. His charity committed large sums of money for the construction of schools, affectionately known as "Rosenwald Schools," in poor, rural and primarily African American school districts in 15 Southern states. These schools were cooperatively built with assistance from the local African American communities.
Photographed By Steve Masler, August 30, 2015
3. Manassas High School/The Cora P. Taylor Auditorium in front of Manassas High School
http://www.searsarchives.com/history/questions/rosenwald.htm
— Submitted August 31, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 31, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 936 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 31, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
