The Kelly Miller 'colored' School served as part of the West Virginia segregated school system from 1902 until 1957. The institution of a segregated society was created through the United States Supreme Court decision, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), upholding the various local 'separate but equal' laws. In West Virginia, this meant a dual school system separating the races. The Kelly Miller 'colored' School served not only Harrison, but also Taylor, Lewis, Doddridge, Upshur and Barbour Counties since their black population was not large enough to justify a separate school. Those students from other counties were bussed to Clarksburg on Monday mornings, boarded at their counties expense during the week in Clarksburg, and returned by bus to their homes on Friday evening. The Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas (1954) struck down the segregated system as being inherently unequal. The United States Supreme Court ordered integration of public schools. In early 1955, the Harrison County board of Education proposed an integration plan, which included the closing of Kelly Miller as a school and reopening it as the offices for the Board of Education and the integration of all black students into the 'white' school system. The black community had hoped that the Kelly Miller School would become a grade school serving the community around Water Street, Ben Street and Monticello Avenue. But it was decided by the black community that the greater victory of integration was worth the loss of the school. Thus, the black community supported the integration plan and the Harrison County schools were integrated beginning with the 1955-1956 school year.
A visit changes a name...
The school was named in honor of Kelly Miller, the Howard University Dean of the college of Arts and Sciences, who traveled to Clarksburg to discuss education as a way to improve the lot of the black race. The black community of Clarksburg decided to change the name of the school that same year, 1920, from Water Street 'colored' School to Kelly Miller 'colored' School.
Striving for Education
The significant person who was a part of the Kelly Miller 'colored' School was its principal from 1919 until 1957, Dr. Emmett B. Saunders . You may read more about Dr. Saunders here .
Kelly Miller School as a focal point for Clarksburgs Black Community
The Kelly Miller building was designed by Silas Dawson, a Clarksburg architect, in 1900. It is an outstanding local example of Dawsons work, which ranged from the late 1890's until the early 1920's. The builder, Charles D. Ogden, was a Harrison County resident. He completed the building in 1902.
Like many black schools throughout the state, Kelly Miller existed not just for the students. Prior to the integration, the school was a focal point of the Clarksburg black community. It served as a rallying point, a social center and an insitution with which the black community could identify.
TheKellyMillerAssociation
Last Updated 01/07/2005
Web Page by D. Grupe
Email D. Grupe
URL: http://www.TheKellyMillerAssociation.com
|
|
