Edwin Washington Project

Music and plays played important roles in the segregated school and are reflected in the official records.  Much of these records is contained in Box 15 of the archives, but also in a wide range of other records.

• Music 1935-1939: Programs for music by schools to benefit the County Library and Music Fund. No indication of Black participation.
• Music: The Calvacade of Negroana, 1941. A Play in Two Acts.  This was a short play intended to demonstrate to a resurrected Frederick Douglass what progress had been made since his passing.  Other than the year, no date was provided.  Students participated from Purcellville, Lincoln, Waterford, Marble Quarry, Round Hill, Rock Hill, Leesburg, Garnes, Hillsboro, Hughesville, Leesburg, Saint Louis and Ashburn.[1] (Document has been scanned and posted on Edwin Washington Project website, www.edwinwashingtonproject.org. [2]  We are trying to figure out what Garnes was.  The Edwin Washington Society wants to sponsor a reprise of the play in 2024.
• Music: 1940-1947: Play titled “Alice in Loudoun Land,” provided history of Loudoun, without any mention of slavery.  Programs for Loudoun County School Music Festival,
• Music: 1952-56:  1956 Music Camp, Questionnaire from State Board of Education, Music list for 1953/54, Band schedule for Leesburg High School and grades, 1953, documents on hiring music teachers, equipment brochures.  Nothing related to Black schools.
• Scholarship, Music, 1953. Scholarship provided by Middleburg Community Center to a teacher
• Music: 1960-62.  Mostly related to music instruction in 1960.  Nothing in files for Douglass or other Black schools.
• We have no photos of music taking place in “colored” schools, but we do have a photo taken in 2016 of a piano from 1900 that was used in the Ashburn Colored School.

[1] Document was scanned on 10/7/2016 and posted on Edwin Washington Project website, www.edwinwashingtonproject.org

[2] Seems to have been inspired by a 1940 WPA project.  See https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/afam013.html

 Music References Elsewhere in the Catalog

• Chapter 4.1 Five Folders:  Supervision: Elementary White and Negro.  Not in order.  Covers supervisor guidance from 1938 to 1956.  Includes music and official singing days.
• Chapter 4.2(a) October 11-12, 1917, Leesburg High School. White Teacher Institute.  Music provided by the Leesburg and Lincoln High Schools.
• Chapter 4.2(a) September 10, 1929. Leesburg High School.  White Teacher Institute. Music was a topic of discussion for a contest.
• Chapter 4.2(b) Colored Principal’s Meeting: Douglass High School.  May 17, 1954.  The music program was discussed.  Superintendent Emerick sent a music book to each teacher, courtesy of the State Department.
• Chapter 4.5. Instructional Employees - Loudoun 1961-62:   The seven-page report contains a list of both white and “Negro” instructors. That particular academic year, there were fifty Black teachers, shown as Negroes in the report, and no supervisors.  They instructed at Banneker, Carver, Douglas Elementary, Music (where required) and Douglas High School.   There were, however, 193 white teachers, including 4 supervisors.  Summary for music component is as follows.  Total Negroes:   31 full time elementary teachers.  1 music teacher.  Total Whites:   4 Supervisors, 107 full time elementary teachers 4 music teachers.
• Teacher’s Record Cards and a Rolodex kept track of a teacher’s ability to sing, play piano, etc.
• Music Supervisor 1960-1961. Mr. Patrick J. Fitzgerald.[3]

[1] Project.  Which schools had piano?

[2] See 1938/39 White Schools in 6.3.2 Virginia Teacher’s Term Reports.

[3] See 4.8 Supervisor Staff, 1918-1961