Eight African American children, in kindergarten, learning washing and ironing at Whittier Primary School, Hampton, Virginia

Eight African American kindergarteners, learning washing and ironing at Whittier Primary School in Hampton, Virginia. 1899.

African-American school children playing outdoors

African-American school children playing outdoors, Chicago 1932-1933.

Howard University

Stereograph showing a crowd of African American students on the lawn of Howard University near Miner Hall. Library of Congress. 

Civil Rights Monument, Equal Education

"We Want an Equal Education." Civil Rights Memorial, Virginia State Capitol. Stanley Bleifield (sculptor), Dell Upton (photographer). 2005-2008. JSTOR.

Welcome

Welcome to your guide for exploring the history of African American primary and secondary education in the United States from 1740 to 1974.  Use the links below and in the left menu to discover secondary, primary, and archival sources available from the Harvard Library and beyond.