In November 1870, William A. Golding, an African American member
of the Georgia Legislature, wrote the American Missionary Association (AMA) on behalf of the people of Liberty County requesting a teacher. "They want a teacher," he wrote, . . . — — Map (db m9033) HM
In 1872, African Americans from Liberty County began another letter writing campaign; this time for a teacher to replace Eliza Ann Ward. They requested that their next teacher be both a teacher and a minister. In the spring of 1874, the community . . . — — Map (db m89834) HM
In 1925, Elizabeth B. Moore began her six-year tenure as Dorchester Academy's only female, African American principal. She insisted that both parents and community accept responsibility for supporting the school. She believed that charity and . . . — — Map (db m9036) HM
The Industrial Arts Department at Dorchester Academy taught students practical skills they could use in everyday life. The boys took classes in farming, woodworking, iron-working, and architecture. The girls were instructed in cooking, sewing, . . . — — Map (db m9057) HM
J. Roosevelt Jenkins, who was Dorchester
Academy's assistant principal, science
teacher and athletic director, replaced
Elizabeth Moore as principal after her death
in 1932. He continued to strengthen the
school's curriculum and the . . . — — Map (db m9058) HM
The Old Midway Congregational Church, two
miles east on U.S. Highway 17, was formed
by whites (Puritans & Congregationalists )
when they settled in Liberty County. They
were driven to church by their black slaves
who were allowed to sit in . . . — — Map (db m9070) HM
Founding the athletic programs was considered one of Principal Elizabeth Moore's greatest achievements. School teams came to be known as the Dorchester Academy Tigers and Tigerettes, with "Shag" the tiger as their mascot. Dorchester Academy . . . — — Map (db m9056) HM
The Midway Congregational Church bell played a very important role in the lives of Dorchester Academy students. It kept time by ringing with an echo that could be heard seven to ten miles away. The bell rang every day at six, seven, eight, nine, . . . — — Map (db m9071) HM
In an effort to involve Liberty County African Americans in politics, the Dorchester Cooperative Center (DCC) began to help organize
African American Voters. The DCC taught local African Americans the United States and Georgia constitutions, . . . — — Map (db m8968) HM
The Errosion of the Franchise
With the passage of the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution in 1868 and 1869, African Americans were granted full citizenship and the right to vote. In less than a decade, nearly 100,000 black . . . — — Map (db m9065) HM
Citizenship Schools
Dorchester Cooperative Center played a key role in the struggle for civil rights and the vote.
In 1954, Septima Clarke, a school teacher from Charleston, SC and Esau Jenkins, a farmer and school bus driver from Johns . . . — — Map (db m9066) HM
