Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lucy Diggs Slowe

(4 Jul. 1883 – 21 Oct. 1837)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 24, 2017

1. Lucy Diggs Slowe Marker

Inscription. Lucy Slowe, educator, was born in Berryville. In 1908, while attending Howard University, she became a founding member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first Greek letter organization for African American women, and was elected its first president. In 1917 Slowe won the national championship in women's singles at the segregated American Tennis Association's inaugural tournament. During her career as a public school teacher and principal, president of the National Association of College Women, English professor at Howard University, and Howard's first Dean of Women (1921-1937), Slowe worked to combat gender inequities and to prepare African American women for leadership.

Erected 2017 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number J-43.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education • Sports • Women. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 39° 8.493′ N, 77° 58.709′ W. Marker is in Berryville, Virginia, in Clarke County. It is on Josephine Street east of South Church

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Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Berryville VA 22611, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Milton Valley Cemetery (a few steps from this marker); The Schools of Josephine City (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Josephine City (approx. 0.4 miles away); Berryville (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Berryville (approx. 0.6 miles away); Benjamin Berry (approx. 0.6 miles away); Stewardship & Conservation (approx. 0.6 miles away); Josephine School Community Museum & The African-American Experience (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berryville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Josephine City (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Wikipedia Entry. “After earning her M.A. she returned to Washington, DC to teach. Because the District was run as part of the Federal government, African American teachers in the public schools were paid on the same scale as whites. The system attracted outstanding teachers, especially for Dunbar High School, the academic high school for African Americans. In 1919, the District of Columbia

Lucy Diggs Slowe and Milton Valley Cemetery Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 24, 2017

2. Lucy Diggs Slowe and Milton Valley Cemetery Markers

asked Lucy Slowe to create the first junior high school in its system for blacks and then appointed her principal. She led the school until 1922, creating the first integrated in-service training for junior high school teachers in the District.” (Submitted on June 25, 2017.)

Lucy Diggs Slowe (1885–1937) image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Alpha Kappa Alpha via Wikipedia Commons

3. Lucy Diggs Slowe (1885–1937)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,393 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 25, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.