Mayers' Industrial School

Mayers’ Industrial School
Location
606 Payne Street,
Knoxville, Tennessee

United States
Information
Other namesMayers Industrial School, Myers' Industrial School, Mayers’ Industrial High School
Former namePeople's Industrial School
School typeBlack private
Religious affiliation(s)Presbyterian Board of Missions, Presbyterian Freemen's Board
DenominationPresbyterian
Established1904
Closedc. 1930
PrincipalFlora E. Mayers

Mayers' Industrial School (1904–c. 1930) was a private boarding and day school for African American students in Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. The school was in part funded by the Presbyterian Board of Missions. It was also known as People's Industrial School,[1] Mayers’ Industrial High School,[2] and Myers' Industrial School.[3]

History

The school was founded as the People's Industrial School in 1904, by the principal Flora E. Mayers (?–1930), and was owned the Presbyterian Board of Missions.[1][4] Mayers had studied at a "colored school" in Maryville, and at Swift Memorial College in Rogersville.[4] She was married to Rev. Richard Mayers.[5]

The early classes for Mayers' Industrial School were held at a building at 923 Vine Avenue at Lynch Street in East Knoxville, and school events were held at Market Hall.[6][7][8] It offered programs in bible study,[4] sewing, woodworking, and cooking.[3][1] In 1908, the school name changed to Mayers' Industrial School by the women at the Union Presbyterian Society.[1] Their student work was displayed in the "Negro Building" at the Appalachian Exposition in 1911.[3]

In August 1911, the school secured a building at 606 Payne Street in Knoxville, which had formerly housed the Slater Training School.[4][9] The school was able to raise the funds to purchase the building by fundraising and with help from the Presbyterian Freemen's Board, and Knoxville-local Charles Cramer.[9][10] The campus contained dorms for boarding, as well as operated as a day school.[1] When the Shiloh Presbyterian Church suffered from a fire in 1912, the African American church temporarily used the chapel at Mayers' Industrial School for worship.[11][12]

Legacy

Multiple photographs of the school are included a collection at the Knox County Public Library.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e United States Office of Education (1917). "Mayer's Industrial School". Negro Education: A Study of the Private and Higher Schools for Colored People in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 555.
  2. ^ a b "Mayers' Industrial High School". Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, Knox County Public Library.
  3. ^ a b c "Colored Building Quite Attractive". The Knoxville Sentinel. September 13, 1911. p. 4. OCLC 12008657 – via Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, Knox County Public Library.
  4. ^ a b c d "Mayers School's Excellent Work". Knoxville Sentinel. May 31, 1916. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Preacher's Will Filed". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. 1931-02-25. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Closing Exercises of Industrial High School". The Journal and Tribune. 1905-06-13. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Medal and Ring Contest Held at Market Hall". The Journal and Tribune. 1905-04-22. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Better Quarters Wanted". The Journal and Tribune. 1907-06-30. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b "Slater School Building For Industrial Training". Knoxville Sentinel. August 14, 1911. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "People's Industrial High School Bazaar". The Journal and Tribune. 1908-02-08. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Shiloh Presbyterian turning 128 Sunday". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Shiloh Presbyterian To Mark 90th Year". The Knoxville Journal. 1955-09-03. Retrieved 2024-11-05 – via Newspapers.com.