Jeanes Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Jeanes Foundation was founded by philanthropist
Anna T. Jeanes
of Philadelphia who was a Quaker. Ms. Jeanes inherited money from her father and brother's estates and was the sole owner because she was single. She wanted to assist in the African-American school system so she donated $1,000,000 and in 1907, created the Jeanes Foundation, which trained and taught teachers in the south who had very little education and experience in the education field. Among its projects, the Jeanes Foundation provided funds to employ African-American supervisors of teachers who were dedicated to upgrading vocational training programs for teachers of black students.
In 1908, Jackson T. Davis
, the superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools
near Richmond, Virginia
named Virginia Estelle Randolph
to become the United States' first "Jeanes Supervising Industrial Teacher." She created the model program for legions of Jeanes teachers who worked toward improving the communities of schools.
As the overseer of 23 elementary schools in Henrico County, Randolph developed the first in-service training program for black teachers and worked on improving the curriculum of the schools. With the freedom to design her own agenda, she shaped industrial work and community self-help programs to meet specific needs of schools. She chronicled her progress by becoming the author of the Henrico Plan, which became a reference book for southern schools receiving assistance from the Jeanes Foundation, which became known as the Negro Rural School Fund.
Randolph's teaching techniques and philosophy were later adopted in Great Britain
's African colonies.
The teachers were trained in schools such as Hampton University
, Tuskegee University
, and many other historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs). The teachers often had to teach students in one big schoolhouse or churches. The establishment also encouraged and raised money to fund field trips and graduation.
Jeanes teachers were mostly black women, because women of color were those who had the worst chance of obtaining a job in the south. The charity gave negro
es a chance to receive a legitimate elementary education. Long term, the foundation encouraged blacks to vote. By 1952 there were over 510 Jeanes teachers in the south. The Jeanes Foundation is still known to be a success that has created a place with the NAACP as well as clubs and PTA committees in the minority community.
The Southern Education Foundation
, a not-for-profit foundation, was created in 1937 from the Negro Rural School Fund, the John F. Slater Fund, the Peabody Education Fund
, and the Virginia Randolph Fund.
The Jeanes teacher program ended in 1968. Their work benefited black communities by providing adequate schools and good teachers. The success of Jeanes teachers stretched beyond African American education in Georgia. The same Jeanes supervisors became prominent leaders during the Civil Rights Movement. The Jeanes teachers and their work in the 1950s are credited for laying the groundwork for the movement of the 1960s.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
Anna T. Jeanes
Anna T. Jeanes
Anna T. Jeanes was an American philanthropist. She was born in Philadelphia, the city where she gave Spring Garden Institute, a technical school, $200,000; $100,000 to the Hicksite Friends; $200,000 to the Quaker schools of Philadelphia; and $200,000 to the Home for Aged Friends, now known as...
of Philadelphia who was a Quaker. Ms. Jeanes inherited money from her father and brother's estates and was the sole owner because she was single. She wanted to assist in the African-American school system so she donated $1,000,000 and in 1907, created the Jeanes Foundation, which trained and taught teachers in the south who had very little education and experience in the education field. Among its projects, the Jeanes Foundation provided funds to employ African-American supervisors of teachers who were dedicated to upgrading vocational training programs for teachers of black students.
In 1908, Jackson T. Davis
Jackson T. Davis
Jackson T. Davis was an educator and author from Virginia. In a career spanning 45 years in the first half of the 20th century, he became an international leader in African American education in the United States and Africa....
, the superintendent of Henrico County Public Schools
Henrico County Public Schools
The Henrico County Public Schools system is a Virginia school division that operates as a functional and independent branch of the Henrico County, Virginia, county government, and administers public schools in the county. Henrico County Public Schools has five International Baccalaureate schools--J.R...
near Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
named Virginia Estelle Randolph
Virginia Randolph
Virginia Estelle Randolph was an African American educator in Henrico County, Virginia. She was named the United States' first "Jeanes Supervising Industrial Teacher" by her Superintendent of Schools, Jackson T. Davis, and she led a program funded by the Jeanes Foundation to upgrade vocational...
to become the United States' first "Jeanes Supervising Industrial Teacher." She created the model program for legions of Jeanes teachers who worked toward improving the communities of schools.
As the overseer of 23 elementary schools in Henrico County, Randolph developed the first in-service training program for black teachers and worked on improving the curriculum of the schools. With the freedom to design her own agenda, she shaped industrial work and community self-help programs to meet specific needs of schools. She chronicled her progress by becoming the author of the Henrico Plan, which became a reference book for southern schools receiving assistance from the Jeanes Foundation, which became known as the Negro Rural School Fund.
Randolph's teaching techniques and philosophy were later adopted in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
's African colonies.
The teachers were trained in schools such as Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
, Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
, and many other historically black colleges and universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
(HBCUs). The teachers often had to teach students in one big schoolhouse or churches. The establishment also encouraged and raised money to fund field trips and graduation.
Jeanes teachers were mostly black women, because women of color were those who had the worst chance of obtaining a job in the south. The charity gave negro
Negro
The word Negro is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether of African descent or not...
es a chance to receive a legitimate elementary education. Long term, the foundation encouraged blacks to vote. By 1952 there were over 510 Jeanes teachers in the south. The Jeanes Foundation is still known to be a success that has created a place with the NAACP as well as clubs and PTA committees in the minority community.
The Southern Education Foundation
Southern education foundation
The Southern Education Foundation is a not-for-profit foundation created in 1937 from four different funds — the Peabody Education Fund, the John F Slater Fund, the Negro Rural School Fund, and the Virginia Randolph Fund. Their main goal is to promote quality education for traditionally...
, a not-for-profit foundation, was created in 1937 from the Negro Rural School Fund, the John F. Slater Fund, the Peabody Education Fund
Peabody Education Fund
Founded of necessity due to damage caused largely by the American Civil War, the Peabody Education Fund was established by George Peabody in 1867 for the purpose of promoting "intellectual, moral, and industrial education in the most destitute portion of the Southern States." The gift of...
, and the Virginia Randolph Fund.
Jeanes teachers in Georgia
The Jeanes teacher program that started in Georgia began with six individuals in 1908 and progressed to a 53-person program by 1939. In addition to the Jeanes teachers' efforts to educate African American students, the Jeanes teachers took a holistic approach in their mission: Not only did they educate black students, but they were also influential in the development of black communities in Georgia. They improved the physical buildings of schools, organized clubs, and overall wanted to enrich the life of the community.The Jeanes teacher program ended in 1968. Their work benefited black communities by providing adequate schools and good teachers. The success of Jeanes teachers stretched beyond African American education in Georgia. The same Jeanes supervisors became prominent leaders during the Civil Rights Movement. The Jeanes teachers and their work in the 1950s are credited for laying the groundwork for the movement of the 1960s.