A note to the bond subscribers
In May 1939 the Clarke Courier carried an urgent note to the Training School's bond subscribers. The school year before, it said, nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a card promising a dollar a year. The League usually paid its $500 bond allotment on or about the first of June, and this year subscribers were asked to bring their dollars to the big annual rally on June 1, to a booth in the school auditorium, where each would get a receipt. The note was signed by E. T. Johnson, president of the League. It was through organization, he reminded his readers, that they had a roomy building with good facilities, and a bus for their children.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939
The Clarke Courier of May 11, 1939 printed a note to the Training School's bond subscribers, signed by E. T. Johnson as president of the League. It said that in the previous school year nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a pledge card subscribing $1 a year toward the annual bond pledge; that the League usually paid its bond allotment of $500 on or about the first of June; that this year the big annual rally would be held on June 1, with a booth in the school auditorium where subscribers could pay their dollar and get a receipt; and that it was through organization that the patrons had a roomy school building with good facilities, and bus transportation for their children.
What the source supports
What the League told its bond subscribers in May 1939 about their dollar pledges, its annual $500 payment and the June 1 rally.
Uncertainty
The League's own statements in an appeal; "nearly every" is its wording, not a count. It announces the rally and the booth and does not report that the rally collected anything or that the 1939 allotment was paid. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 8 to 15, 1939, a search that can miss an item. The League is not identified with the county league of the 1920s. E. T. Johnson is named as printed and is not joined to any person record.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The appeal, its figures and its signature.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
May 1939: the League asked each subscriber to bring a dollar to the June 1 rally, toward the $500 it usually paid about the first of June. Signed E. T. Johnson, President of League.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 11, 1939, page 2. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 807 by 1873 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay" Open the full image
Digging the foundation
The building was nine years old. In April 1930 the county School Board awarded the contract for a new school for Black students, to be used by the Clarke County Training School, to Kelley and Kelley of Bluemont. The plan was cinder block faced with brick, with an auditorium and four classrooms. Two more rooms could be closed off from the auditorium with folding doors, and vocational agriculture was to be a feature of the teaching. The price was $17,350. The contract deducted $407 for a simpler heating plant, and 50 cents for every cubic yard of excavation the school's patrons would dig themselves.
They dug it. Superintendent A. F. Robertson turned the first shovel on April 17, with the principal, the vocational teacher Morgan Edwards and some of the pupils beside him. That week Black residents held digging bees. By the middle of May the Courier reported the foundation finished, dug by the patrons at a cost of a little over $300. White neighbors helped with cash and with trucks to haul the dirt. The principal, printed that spring both as E. T. Johnson and as E. T. Johnston, had written a verse for the work, and in May he quoted its best line back in the paper: "impatient dirt must fly."
The digging was the first of two promises. The second, the April report said, was more binding: it was backed by bonds of $8,000. The patrons also pledged to raise $500 every year toward the building. A thousand "My Dollar Fund Rally" envelopes went out to Black families across the county. A dollar, the principal wrote, would put the giver's name on the cornerstone record.
The cornerstone went in on Friday, June 6, 1930, in the rain. A parade set off ahead of schedule, led by the Charles Town band and the Odd Fellows of Millwood, with the schools and communities marching in alphabetical order: Berryville, Boyce, Bristoe, Louisville, Millwood, Stone Bridge and White Post. It went down Liberty Street and up Main, then out Church Street into Josephine City, where the speeches were made between showers. After three attempts the stone was set in the northeast corner of the Clarke County Training School. The pageant that day brought in more than $500. The principal still needed $100 before a dedication planned for September: the agriculture hall was unfinished, the playground unfenced, and there was no play equipment at all.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The Clarke Courier of April 17, 1930 reported that the contract for the erection of the colored school building had been awarded to Kelley and Kelley, contractors of Bluemont, Va., at $17,350.00, less $407.00 for a one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system and less fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school. The building was to be of 8-inch cinder block faced with 4-inch brick, with an auditorium and four separate classrooms and two more cut off from the auditorium by folding doors; it would be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, with instruction in vocational agriculture as a feature. The Courier of May 15, 1930 said the School Board of Clarke County had awarded the contract a few weeks earlier, at the same price and deductions.
What the source supports
The contract for the Training School's 1930 building, its price, its deductions and the plan, as the Courier reported them.
Uncertainty
Newspaper reports of a contract; the contract itself was not inspected. The price is the contract price, not the building's final cost, and it is not reconciled with, or added to, the Rosenwald card's total, the $8,000 in bonds or the yearly $500. The machine-read text gives $17,360; the page image reads $17,350.00. Kelley and Kelley are not identified with any other record.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The price and the two deductions.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, report of the contract, the price and deductions
Relevant passageThe contract price is $17,350.00 less a deduction of $407.00 for one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system, and less a deduction of fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The construction, the plan and the building's use.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the construction and plan of the building
Relevant passageConstruction will be 8-in. cinder block faced with 4-in. brick ... building to consist of auditorium and four separate class rooms, with two additional class rooms cut off by means of folding doors in the auditorium. This school will be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, and a feature of the school will be instruction in vocational agriculture
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The School Board's award, restated with the same price.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, opening paragraphs: the contract restated and the digging completed
Relevant passageA few weeks ago the School Board of Clarke county awarded the contract for the erection of the colored school building to Kelley and Kelley, Bluemont, Va. contractors, at the price of $17,350.00 ... The digging of the foundation has been completed
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The Clarke Courier of May 15, 1930 reported that the digging of the foundation had been completed, and under a photograph captioned as Superintendent A. F. Robertson breaking the ground on April 17 it printed a contribution from E. T. Johnson, principal of the school. He wrote that Robertson had lined up the trench for the new building, with Johnson, the vocation teacher Morgan Edwards and some of the pupils beginning the excavation; that, as his verse had said, "Impatient dirt must fly"; and that the foundation had been dug by the patrons at a cost of a little over $300, with many white friends giving aid, some in cash and some in truck service moving dirt.
What the source supports
Who broke ground for the building, that the patrons dug its foundation, and what the digging cost, as the Courier and the principal reported them.
Uncertainty
Largely the principal's own account. The photograph was not examined and is not reproduced; the date comes from its caption. Morgan Edwards is not identified with the M. J. Edwards of 1936 or anyone else. The principal's history in the same piece, of Training School privileges granted seven years before and ground first broken at the May 1929 pageant, is not used.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The digging completed.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, opening paragraphs: the contract restated and the digging completed
Relevant passageA few weeks ago the School Board of Clarke county awarded the contract for the erection of the colored school building to Kelley and Kelley, Bluemont, Va. contractors, at the price of $17,350.00 ... The digging of the foundation has been completed
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The groundbreaking and who was there, and the quoted verse.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same page, the photograph caption and the principal's account of the groundbreaking
Relevant passagePictured above is Superintendent A. F. Robertson breaking the ground on April 17 ... in the above cut you see him in company with E. T. Johnson, the vocation teacher, Morgan Edwards and some of the pupils beginning the excavation. ... "Impatient dirt must fly"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The cost and the help.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same contribution, the cost of the digging and the help received
Relevant passageThe foundation has been dug by the patrons at a cost of a little over $300. Many of our white friends have contributed aid, some in cash, some in truck service in moving dirt
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The same report of April 17, 1930 said the colored people were holding two digging bees that week, on Wednesday and Friday; that they had gathered on Wednesday in large numbers to make good on "Promise Number 1," to dig out the foundation; and that dollars had begun to come in toward Promise Number 2, "which is more binding, covered by bonds to the sum of $8,000." It printed a verse by E. T. Johnson, principal of the school, with the line "For most assuredly impatient dirt must fly."
What the source supports
That the patrons dug by volunteer bees in April 1930, and that a second promise was secured by $8,000 in bonds.
Uncertainty
The paper's account, partly in the principal's words. The $8,000 is a promise secured by bonds, not a cost; the report does not say who held the bonds or on what terms, and it is not reconciled with the contract price, the Rosenwald card's total or the yearly $500. The report prints "the colored people of the country"; the rest of it concerns the county.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The bees and the two promises.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the digging bees and the two promises
Relevant passageare holding two digging bees this week, one on Wednesday and one o[n] Friday ... gathered Wednesday in large numbers to make good on Promise Number 1. To dig out the foundation. Dollars have already begun to pour in toward Promise Number 2, which is more binding, covered by bonds to the sum of $8,000.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The principal's verse.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the principal's verse "Digging Spree Again Friday"
Relevant passageFor most assuredly impatient dirt must fly.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
In the same contribution E. T. Johnson wrote that "we have already pledged ourselves to raise $500 annually"; that on June 6 the Odd Fellows would lay the cornerstone of what was planned as "an imposing brick, six-teacher plan school with auditorium," and the patrons would launch their first $500 drive; and that one thousand "My Dollar Fund Rally" envelopes had been distributed to the colored people throughout the county, each asked to return a dollar, and not less for anyone who wished their name to go on the cornerstone record.
What the source supports
The patrons' annual $500 pledge, the planned six-teacher school and the dollar envelopes, in the principal's words.
Uncertainty
A pledge and a plan, not a record of payments. Whether the building was built to the six-teacher plan is not established here. The yearly $500 is a separate measure from the contract price, the bonds and the Rosenwald card's total, and is never added to them. The printed "imposing brick , six-teacher" has a stray space before the comma.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The pledge, the plan and the envelopes.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same contribution, the annual pledge, the planned school and the dollar envelopes
Relevant passagewe have already pledged ourselves to raise $500 annually ... an imposing brick , six-teacher plan school with auditorium ... One thousand "My Dollar Fund Rally" envelopes have been distributed to the colored people throughout the county ... but not less if you wish your name to go on the cornerstone record.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The Clarke Courier of June 5, 1930 reported an announcement by E. T. Johnston, principal of the Clarke County Training School, that the cornerstone of the new school building then being erected in Josephine City would be laid the next day, Friday, June 6, when the patrons would also hold their sixth annual pageant and "Rally Day Drive," toward "the first $500, which they have pledged to raise annually toward the new building."
What the source supports
Where and when the cornerstone was to be laid, and that the day's drive was toward the first of the annual $500 payments.
Uncertainty
An announcement; the report of June 12, 1930 describes the day. The principal is printed Johnston here and Johnson in the paper's other reports; both forms are kept as printed and not reconciled further.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The announcement and the drive.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 5, 1930, page 7: "Cornerstone of New School For Colored To Be Laid Tomorrow"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-05 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, announcement of the cornerstone laying and the Rally Day Drive
Relevant passagetomorrow (Friday June 6) is the day for the laying of the cornerstone to the new school building which is now being erected in Josephine City. This same day they will hold their sixth annual pageant and "Rally Day Drive," the purpose of the latter to help in the first $500, which they have pledged to raise annually toward the new building.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The Clarke Courier of June 12, 1930 printed E. T. Johnson's account of the cornerstone day. It rained. The parade started ahead of time, led by the Charles Town band and the Odd Fellows of Millwood, with the schools and communities following alphabetically, Berryville, Boyce, Bristoe, Louisville, Millwood, Stone Bridge and White Post. It moved down Liberty Street to Railroad Street, up Main into Church, and out Church into Josephine; the speeches were made between showers; and after three attempts the stone was placed in the north east corner of the Clarke County Training School.
What the source supports
That the cornerstone of the Training School was laid, with a parade through Berryville to Josephine City.
Uncertainty
The principal's own account, printed as his contribution; it also refers to "The Rev. Johnston". It does not give the date, which the June 5 announcement set for Friday, June 6. The lodge and the band are named only as printed.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The parade, the route and the setting of the stone.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1930, page 4: "Cornerstone of School For The Colored Is Laid"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, the principal's account, the parade, its route and the setting of the stone
Relevant passageIt has been said that our people are never on time, but the parade started ahead of expected time with Charles Town band ... After three attempts the stone was placed in the north east corner of the Clarke County Training School.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: contextualizes. The announced date.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 5, 1930, page 7: "Cornerstone of New School For Colored To Be Laid Tomorrow"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-05 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, announcement of the cornerstone laying and the Rally Day Drive
Relevant passagetomorrow (Friday June 6) is the day for the laying of the cornerstone to the new school building which is now being erected in Josephine City. This same day they will hold their sixth annual pageant and "Rally Day Drive," the purpose of the latter to help in the first $500, which they have pledged to raise annually toward the new building.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The same account says the proceeds from the pageant passed the $500 mark; that just $100 more was needed before the dedication, which would be early in September, since the agriculture hall was still to be completed, the playground enclosed, and there was no play apparatus at all; and that more than 400 "My Dollar Fund" envelopes were out.
What the source supports
What the cornerstone pageant raised and what the principal said was still needed before the dedication.
Uncertainty
The principal's figures. It does not say whether the proceeds counted toward the first annual $500. The dedication was planned; whether and when it took place was not checked. None of these sums is added to the others.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The proceeds, the needs and the envelopes.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1930, page 4: "Cornerstone of School For The Colored Is Laid"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same account, the proceeds, the dedication and the envelopes
Relevant passagethe proceeds from the Pageant past the $500 mark ... we certainly do need just $100 more prior to our dedication which will be early in September. Look, the agriculture hall is to be completed; the play ground enclosed, and we have no play appratus whatever. ... We have out now more than 400 "My Dollar Fund" envelipes.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
April 1930: the contract awarded to Kelley and Kelley at $17,350.00, the building planned for the use of the Clarke County Training School, two digging bees, and Promise Number 2 backed by $8,000 in bonds.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), April 17, 1930, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 804 by 4828 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building Open the full image
May 1930: the foundation dug by the patrons for a little over $300, the $500 annual pledge, a planned six-teacher school with auditorium, and a thousand "My Dollar Fund Rally" envelopes.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 15, 1930, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained JPEG image of 2421 by 1861 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 922 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson Open the full image
June 1930: the cornerstone of the new school in Josephine City to be laid Friday, June 6, with the sixth annual pageant and a Rally Day Drive toward the first annual $500. The principal is printed E. T. Johnston.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 5, 1930, page 7. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 812 by 3306 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 5, 1930, page 7: "Cornerstone of New School For Colored To Be Laid Tomorrow" Open the full image
June 1930: the parade to Josephine City in the rain, the stone set after three attempts in the northeast corner of the Clarke County Training School, and pageant proceeds past the $500 mark, with $100 more needed before a September dedication.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 12, 1930, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 810 by 5836 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1930, page 4: "Cornerstone of School For The Colored Is Laid" Open the full image
What the building cost
Two records from outside the county add to the picture. The first is the Julius Rosenwald Fund's card for a "Berryville School" in Clarke County. It describes a six-teacher building on five acres, built under the 1930–31 budget, at a total cost of $20,900. Of that, $1,700 came from Black residents, $15,300 from public funds and $3,900 from the Fund. The card does not name the Training School, but it probably describes it: the principal had promised a six-teacher school with an auditorium, and the dates match. The same $1,700 is the sum the Courier reported in 1928 that the county's Black residents had raised toward a proposed school. The card's total, the contract price and the $8,000 in bonds measure different things, and nothing in these records reconciles them.
The second is the John F. Slater Fund's list of county training schools for 1929–30. The Slater Fund supported county training schools across the South. Its list names Clarke's, at Berryville, with E. T. Johnson as principal, in its second year on the list.
Nine years later, the League's 1939 appeal for its annual $500 payment reads like that same annual pledge still being kept, although the paper never says so in as many words.
Source note: Julius Rosenwald Fund
A Julius Rosenwald Fund card, no. 3876, for a "Berryville School" in Clarke County, Va., records five acres of land and a six-teacher type building, built under the 1930-31 budget on application no. 10-J, at a total cost of $20,900: $1,700 from Black contributors (printed "Negroes"), none from whites, $15,300 public and $3,900 from the Rosenwald Fund, with insurance of $10,000.
What the source supports
That the Rosenwald Fund recorded a six-teacher Berryville school built under its 1930-31 budget, and what it recorded of the money.
Uncertainty
The card names a "Berryville School", not the Clarke County Training School. Its identification with the Training School building is probable, not certain: it rests on the six-teacher plan the principal described in 1930, the matching dates and the $1,700 the Courier reported raised in 1928. The total is the project's cost as the fund recorded it, not the 1930 contract price, and it is not reconciled with, or added to, the contract, the $8,000 in bonds or the yearly $500. The card's handwritten red marginal note is not transcribed.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The card's typed entries.
Julius Rosenwald Fund school card no. 3876: "Berryville School," Clarke County, Va.
Julius Rosenwald Fund
Locator: Card no. 3876: the typed entries: name, county, land, type, budget year, application, total cost, its four sources and insurance
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: rosenwald-fund-records. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1928
The Clarke Courier of May 10, 1928 reported that the county school board's request for the right to borrow for a colored industrial school in Josephine City had been continued to the supervisors' next regular meeting; that several supervisors thought the dilapidated school building in use in Josephine would soon be condemned; and that the county's Black residents had raised $1,700 among themselves, had been assured $1,000 from B. B. Jones, as the paper understood it, and would have $1,500 from the Rosenwald Fund.
What the source supports
That a school for Black students at Josephine City was proposed, with local money raised and more promised, in May 1928.
Uncertainty
A proposal, continued to a later meeting. The $1,000 is what the paper understood and the Rosenwald money a promise; the report records no decision, no building and no payment. Nothing here joins this proposal to the Training School building of 1930 or to the 2004 study's Rosenwald listing.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report of the petition, the supervisors' view and the money raised and promised.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 10 May 1928, page 4: report on a proposed industrial school for Black students at Josephine City
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1928-05-10 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, report of the supervisors' meeting on a proposed industrial school at Josephine City
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-24. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The Clarke Courier of April 17, 1930 reported that the contract for the erection of the colored school building had been awarded to Kelley and Kelley, contractors of Bluemont, Va., at $17,350.00, less $407.00 for a one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system and less fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school. The building was to be of 8-inch cinder block faced with 4-inch brick, with an auditorium and four separate classrooms and two more cut off from the auditorium by folding doors; it would be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, with instruction in vocational agriculture as a feature. The Courier of May 15, 1930 said the School Board of Clarke County had awarded the contract a few weeks earlier, at the same price and deductions.
What the source supports
The contract for the Training School's 1930 building, its price, its deductions and the plan, as the Courier reported them.
Uncertainty
Newspaper reports of a contract; the contract itself was not inspected. The price is the contract price, not the building's final cost, and it is not reconciled with, or added to, the Rosenwald card's total, the $8,000 in bonds or the yearly $500. The machine-read text gives $17,360; the page image reads $17,350.00. Kelley and Kelley are not identified with any other record.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The price and the two deductions.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, report of the contract, the price and deductions
Relevant passageThe contract price is $17,350.00 less a deduction of $407.00 for one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system, and less a deduction of fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The construction, the plan and the building's use.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the construction and plan of the building
Relevant passageConstruction will be 8-in. cinder block faced with 4-in. brick ... building to consist of auditorium and four separate class rooms, with two additional class rooms cut off by means of folding doors in the auditorium. This school will be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, and a feature of the school will be instruction in vocational agriculture
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The School Board's award, restated with the same price.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, opening paragraphs: the contract restated and the digging completed
Relevant passageA few weeks ago the School Board of Clarke county awarded the contract for the erection of the colored school building to Kelley and Kelley, Bluemont, Va. contractors, at the price of $17,350.00 ... The digging of the foundation has been completed
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The same report of April 17, 1930 said the colored people were holding two digging bees that week, on Wednesday and Friday; that they had gathered on Wednesday in large numbers to make good on "Promise Number 1," to dig out the foundation; and that dollars had begun to come in toward Promise Number 2, "which is more binding, covered by bonds to the sum of $8,000." It printed a verse by E. T. Johnson, principal of the school, with the line "For most assuredly impatient dirt must fly."
What the source supports
That the patrons dug by volunteer bees in April 1930, and that a second promise was secured by $8,000 in bonds.
Uncertainty
The paper's account, partly in the principal's words. The $8,000 is a promise secured by bonds, not a cost; the report does not say who held the bonds or on what terms, and it is not reconciled with the contract price, the Rosenwald card's total or the yearly $500. The report prints "the colored people of the country"; the rest of it concerns the county.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The bees and the two promises.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the digging bees and the two promises
Relevant passageare holding two digging bees this week, one on Wednesday and one o[n] Friday ... gathered Wednesday in large numbers to make good on Promise Number 1. To dig out the foundation. Dollars have already begun to pour in toward Promise Number 2, which is more binding, covered by bonds to the sum of $8,000.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The principal's verse.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the principal's verse "Digging Spree Again Friday"
Relevant passageFor most assuredly impatient dirt must fly.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: The John F. Slater Fund, 1930
The John F. Slater Fund's Proceedings and Reports for the year ending September 30, 1930 prints a "List of 384 Schools 1929-30," the county training schools on its roll, state by state, in which the figure after each county is the number of years its school had been on the list. Under Virginia it lists Clarke 2, post office Berryville, superintendent A. F. Robinson, principal E. T. Johnson. The report's section on county training schools says the fund had aided in establishing them since the session of 1911-12.
What the source supports
That the Slater Fund counted Clarke's training school, at Berryville, on its 1929-30 list, in its second year there.
Uncertainty
A printed list for one year; it gives no grant for the school and does not say what the fund paid it. The superintendent is printed A. F. Robinson, where the Courier prints A. F. Robertson; both forms are kept. The section on the fund's aid was read in the archive's machine-read text, not on the page image. Later lists were not read.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The list's title and headnote.
The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930: "List of 384 Schools 1929-30"
The John F. Slater Fund · 1930 (publication)
Locator: Printed page 16, head of the "List of 384 Schools 1929-30" and its headnote
Relevant passageList of 384 Schools 1929-30 ... The figure accompanying the name of the county shows the number of years the school has been on the list.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: slater-fund-reports. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The Clarke row.
The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930: "List of 384 Schools 1929-30"
The John F. Slater Fund · 1930 (publication)
Locator: Printed page 24, Virginia list, the Clarke row read across its four columns
Relevant passageClarke 2 Berryville A. F. Robinson E. T. Johnson
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: slater-fund-reports. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: contextualizes. The fund's aid to county training schools.
The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930: "List of 384 Schools 1929-30"
The John F. Slater Fund · 1930 (publication)
Locator: Printed page 15, section "County Training Schools", opening sentence (machine-read text)
Relevant passageBeginning with the Session 1911-12, at the request of four County Superintendents, the Slater Fund aided in establishing County Training Schools in these four counties.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: slater-fund-reports. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939, and one more
The League's 1939 appeal for its annual $500 bond allotment, paid on or about the first of June, matches in amount and season the $500 a year the patrons pledged in 1930 toward the building and the June rally at which they began raising it. No record read says that the 1939 payment was the same pledge.
What the source supports
That the story's link between the 1930 pledge and the 1939 appeal is a reading of the League's notices, not a stated fact.
Uncertainty
Same sum, same June rally and the same principal, but the paper never says the 1939 allotment is the 1930 pledge. The League's accounts and the School Board's minutes, which might settle it, were not read.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The 1939 allotment of $500 about the first of June.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The 1930 pledge of $500 annually.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same contribution, the annual pledge, the planned school and the dollar envelopes
Relevant passagewe have already pledged ourselves to raise $500 annually ... an imposing brick , six-teacher plan school with auditorium ... One thousand "My Dollar Fund Rally" envelopes have been distributed to the colored people throughout the county ... but not less if you wish your name to go on the cornerstone record.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The first annual $500 drive at the June 1930 pageant.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 5, 1930, page 7: "Cornerstone of New School For Colored To Be Laid Tomorrow"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-05 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, announcement of the cornerstone laying and the Rally Day Drive
Relevant passagetomorrow (Friday June 6) is the day for the laying of the cornerstone to the new school building which is now being erected in Josephine City. This same day they will hold their sixth annual pageant and "Rally Day Drive," the purpose of the latter to help in the first $500, which they have pledged to raise annually toward the new building.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939
The Clarke Courier of May 11, 1939 printed a note to the Training School's bond subscribers, signed by E. T. Johnson as president of the League. It said that in the previous school year nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a pledge card subscribing $1 a year toward the annual bond pledge; that the League usually paid its bond allotment of $500 on or about the first of June; that this year the big annual rally would be held on June 1, with a booth in the school auditorium where subscribers could pay their dollar and get a receipt; and that it was through organization that the patrons had a roomy school building with good facilities, and bus transportation for their children.
What the source supports
What the League told its bond subscribers in May 1939 about their dollar pledges, its annual $500 payment and the June 1 rally.
Uncertainty
The League's own statements in an appeal; "nearly every" is its wording, not a count. It announces the rally and the booth and does not report that the rally collected anything or that the 1939 allotment was paid. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 8 to 15, 1939, a search that can miss an item. The League is not identified with the county league of the 1920s. E. T. Johnson is named as printed and is not joined to any person record.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The appeal, its figures and its signature.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
The Rosenwald Fund's card for a "Berryville School": six-teacher type, five acres, 1930-31 budget, total $20,900 ($1,700 from Black contributors, $15,300 public, $3,900 Rosenwald). Probably the Clarke County Training School building; the card does not name it.
Julius Rosenwald Fund card no. 3876, "Berryville School," Clarke County, Va. Fisk University, Rosenwald Fund Collection, item 30127. Rights Changes: The retained JPEG image of 3012 by 1818 pixels, scaled to 1200 by 724 and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Julius Rosenwald Fund school card no. 3876: "Berryville School," Clarke County, Va. Open the full image
The Slater Fund's list of county training schools for 1929-30: the figure after each county is the number of years its school had been on the list.
The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930, page 16. Internet Archive, proceedingsrepor00john_9. Rights Changes: A detail of the Internet Archive page image of page 16 (2837 by 4251 pixels): the rectangle from x 400 to 2837 and y 300 to 1100, which leaves out the Alabama list below the headnote, scaled to 1200 by 394, and re-encoded as JPEG. The whole page is at the source link. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930: "List of 384 Schools 1929-30" Open the full image
Virginia, 1929-30: "Clarke 2, Berryville, A. F. Robinson, E. T. Johnson," Clarke's school in its second year on the Slater Fund's list. The superintendent is printed Robinson.
The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930, page 24. Internet Archive, proceedingsrepor00john_9. Rights Changes: A detail of the Internet Archive page image of page 24 (2837 by 4251 pixels): the rectangle from x 400 to 2837 and y 2440 to 3860, which leaves out the Texas rows above the Virginia list, scaled to 1200 by 699, and re-encoded as JPEG. The whole page is at the source link. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: The John F. Slater Fund, Proceedings and Reports for Year Ending September 30, 1930: "List of 384 Schools 1929-30" Open the full image
May 1928: the county's Black residents had raised $1,700 among themselves toward a proposed industrial school at Josephine City.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 10, 1928, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 817 by 3800 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 10 May 1928, page 4: report on a proposed industrial school for Black students at Josephine City Open the full image
A bus of their own
Getting children to the school took a second campaign. In April 1936 a Sunday program by men of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Camp George Washington was announced for April 19 at the school, for the bus fund, with a silver offering. That June the School Improvement League called its annual meeting to account for every dollar and where it came from, and announced that the bus had been paid for. In 1937 the principal said the League had kept a bus running, largely on private donations, money from its entertainments and help from the School Board.
In 1938 the county proposed a bus of its own. That spring's budget asked for a five-cent rise in the school levy, partly to add a bus for Black schoolchildren and to run and maintain it. In September the county's published bus routes included a Bus No. 3 for Black students, driven by Thomas Jackson. It left the railroad crossing near Stone Bridge at 7:30 in the morning, dropped the younger children at the White Post, Boyce and Millwood schools for Black students, and finished at the Clarke County Training School.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of April 16, 1936 announced that members of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Camp George Washington would give a program at the Clarke County Training School on Sunday afternoon, April 19, at 3 p.m., for the benefit of the bus fund, and that a silver offering would be taken.
What the source supports
That a CCC program for the school's bus fund was announced for April 19, 1936.
Uncertainty
An announcement; no report that the program was held was sought for this story. It names none of the performers.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The notice.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 16, 1936, page 1: "C. C. C. Members To Give Program Here"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-04-16 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, notice "C. C. C. Members To Give Program Here", at the foot of the column
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of June 18, 1936 announced the annual meeting of the School Improvement League of the Clarke County Training School for Monday night, June 22, in the school auditorium, where the annual report would account for all monies received and where they came from; it asked those who had pledged envelopes and not yet reported to attend, and said the bus had been paid for.
What the source supports
That the League said in June 1936 that its bus had been paid for.
Uncertainty
A notice of a meeting to come, carrying the League's statement. The annual report was not found or read, and the bus's cost and seller are not given. The School Improvement League is kept apart from the County Improvement League named in 1937 and from the county league of the 1920s.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The notice and the statement about the bus.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 18, 1936, page 8: "School Improvement League Meets Monday"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-06-18 (publication)
Locator: Page 8, notice "School Improvement League Meets Monday"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1937
The Clarke Courier of April 29, 1937 reported the principal's statement that the County Improvement League had successfully operated a school bus, aided largely by private donations, money raised from entertainments and help from the School Board.
What the source supports
How the principal said the school's bus had been kept running by 1937.
Uncertainty
The principal's statement. It gives no dates, costs or routes. The County Improvement League is not identified with the School Improvement League of 1936 or with any other league.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The paragraph on the bus.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 29, 1937, page 1: "Training School Plans Field Day"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1937-04-29 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, same report, closing paragraph on the school bus
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1938
The Clarke Courier of April 7, 1938, reporting a proposed county budget on which taxpayers would be heard by the Board of Supervisors on April 11, said it raised the school levy by five cents, from 75 to 80 cents, and that the increase was for adding a bus for colored school children, with its operation and maintenance, and for equipping a shop to teach children a trade.
What the source supports
That the county proposed in 1938 to pay for a bus for Black schoolchildren.
Uncertainty
A proposal before a public hearing. Whether the budget was adopted as proposed, and whether a bus was bought under it, was not checked.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The levy increase and its purpose.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 7, 1938, page 1: report "Taxpayers To Be Heard On Topics" on the proposed county budget
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1938-04-07 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, budget report, the paragraph on the reason for the school-levy increase and the table of rates
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1938
The Clarke Courier of September 8, 1938 printed the county's school bus routes, among them Bus No. 3 (Colored), with Thomas Jackson as driver. Its Route 3-A left the railroad crossing near Stone Bridge at 7:30 a.m., went by way of the White Post, Boyce and Millwood colored schools, leaving the lower grades at each, and ended at the Clarke County Training School.
What the source supports
That in September 1938 a county bus route served Black schoolchildren and ended at the Training School.
Uncertainty
A published schedule, not a record of service. It does not say that Bus No. 3 is the bus proposed in the April budget or the bus the League had run. Thomas Jackson is known here only from this list. The colored schools on the route are not identified with school records of other years.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The Bus No. 3 route.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 8, 1938, page 4: county school bus routes, Bus No. 3 (Colored)
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1938-09-08 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, route list, Bus No. 3 (Colored), Route No. 3-A
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
April 1936: members of the Civilian Conservation Corps from Camp George Washington were to give a program at the Training School on Sunday, April 19, for the bus fund, with a silver offering.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), April 16, 1936, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 809 by 2789 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 16, 1936, page 1: "C. C. C. Members To Give Program Here" Open the full image
June 1936: the School Improvement League's annual meeting was to account for all monies received and from what source. "The bus has been paid for."
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 18, 1936, page 8. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 801 by 1729 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 18, 1936, page 8: "School Improvement League Meets Monday" Open the full image
April 1937: a field day announced for May 27, after twelve years of field days or pageants to raise funds; the County Improvement League had run a school bus on private donations, entertainments and School Board help.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), April 29, 1937, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 812 by 2589 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 29, 1937, page 1: "Training School Plans Field Day" Open the full image
April 1938: the proposed budget raised the school levy by five cents, for adding a bus for Black schoolchildren, its operation and upkeep, and a trade shop. A proposal before a public hearing.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), April 7, 1938, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 821 by 4499 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 7, 1938, page 1: report "Taxpayers To Be Heard On Topics" on the proposed county budget Open the full image
September 1938: Bus No. 3 (Colored), driver Thomas Jackson, from the railroad crossing near Stone Bridge at 7:30 to the White Post, Boyce and Millwood colored schools and the Clarke County Training School.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), September 8, 1938, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 800 by 2388 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 8, 1938, page 4: county school bus routes, Bus No. 3 (Colored) Open the full image
Judging teams
The school's agriculture students were its champions. In the spring of 1936 its judging team came home from the state rally at Petersburg with a silver loving cup for first place. Harry C. Kelly was the best individual judge of hens. Robert C. Williams placed third on hogs; he had been second-best in the state the year before, and had won first in white potatoes on Virginia's team at the national meeting at Tuskegee. Edward L. Lewis completed the team.
That summer the three went to Hampton for the national convention of the New Farmers of America, under the direction of M. J. Edwards, with William T. Mason as alternate. Sixteen states took part, and Clarke's team finished fifth in all classes judged. Lewis was the top individual judge of laying hens, and Williams placed fifth on dairy cows.
The farm boys played basketball too. In February 1937 the school's agricultural team beat Harrisonburg, 17 to 12.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of May 7, 1936 reported that the Clarke County Training School's judging team had come home with a silver loving cup for first place in the judging contests at the annual spring rally at Petersburg. There Harry C. Kelly was the highest individual in judging hens and fifth highest in mules, and Robert C. Williams third highest in judging hogs. Williams had been the second highest individual at the state rally the year before, and on Virginia's judging team at the national meeting at Tuskegee, Ala., had won first place in judging white potatoes. The team of Williams, Kelly and Edward L. Lewis was to represent Virginia at the national meeting at Hampton Institute in August.
What the source supports
The 1936 state result of the school's judging team and its members' placings, as the Courier reported them.
Uncertainty
The paper's report, not the contest's records. The students are named as printed and are not identified with anyone of a similar name in other records, including later graduate lists.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 7, 1936, page 7: "Training School Team Wins State Honors"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-05-07 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, report "Training School Team Wins State Honors"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of September 10, 1936 reported that the Clarke County Training School's judging team, Robert C. Williams, Harry C. Kelly and Edward L. Lewis, under the direction of M. J. Edwards and with William T. Mason as alternate, had returned from the National Convention of the New Farmers of America at Hampton, Va., where sixteen states were represented, having won fifth place in all classes judged. Williams was fifth highest in dairy cows and ranked third in judging mules in the southeastern section; Lewis was the highest individual in judging laying hens, third highest in eggs and corn, and fourth in the entire class of livestock.
What the source supports
The team's result at the 1936 national convention, as the Courier reported it.
Uncertainty
The paper's report; the New Farmers of America's convention records were not read, so the placings are unconfirmed there. The paper prints Mason as an "alternative". M. J. Edwards is not identified with the Morgan Edwards of 1930. The machine-read text of the item is garbled; it was read on the page image.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 10, 1936, page 1: "County Training School Ranks Fifth In Contest"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-09-10 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, report "County Training School Ranks Fifth In Contest"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1937
The Clarke Courier of February 11, 1937 reported that the agricultural basketball team of the Clarke County Training School had won a hard-fought game from the Harrisonburg team on February 3 by a score of 17 to 12.
What the source supports
A 1937 win by the school's agricultural basketball team.
Uncertainty
A short report. The machine-read text gives February 8 and 17 to 18; the page image reads February 3 and 17 to 12. The Harrisonburg team is not identified further.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., February 11, 1937, page 1: "Training School Aggies Trounce Harrisonburg"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1937-02-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, report "Training School Aggies Trounce Harrisonburg"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
May 1936: first place and a silver loving cup at Petersburg. Harry C. Kelly was highest on hens and fifth on mules, Robert C. Williams third on hogs.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 7, 1936, page 7. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 843 by 1713 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 7, 1936, page 7: "Training School Team Wins State Honors" Open the full image
September 1936: fifth in all classes at the New Farmers of America convention at Hampton, with sixteen states represented. Williams ranked third judging mules in the southeastern section, and Lewis was highest on laying hens.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), September 10, 1936, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 786 by 1965 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 10, 1936, page 1: "County Training School Ranks Fifth In Contest" Open the full image
February 1937: the Training School "Aggies" beat Harrisonburg on February 3, 17 to 12.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), February 11, 1937, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 781 by 558 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., February 11, 1937, page 1: "Training School Aggies Trounce Harrisonburg" Open the full image
Classrooms on show
The school's public days showed off what its classrooms were doing. In May 1936, the county's centennial year, the school announced a pageant of its own, "The Negro in Clarke County, 100 Years", for May 21 on the school grounds. It was to grow out of classroom study arranged under seven topics, from production and transportation to religion, education and the extension of freedom. The elementary grades took six topics, and the high school took the finale, "The Oracle of Time", which imagined the next hundred years. Industrial exhibits would fill the vocational building, and antiques the main building. This was the school's own program, separate from the county's July celebration.
In February 1938 the home economics department announced an art exhibit for the auditorium. It paired a traveling loan collection from the art department of the Virginia State College for Negroes with work from the county's own schools, in fine, domestic and industrial art.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of May 7, 1936 announced a pageant, "The Negro in Clarke County, 100 Years," to be presented by the Clarke County Training School on the school grounds on May 21 in connection with the county's centenary. It said the pageant grew out of classroom study arranged under seven topics, running from protection and conservation, production and distribution through communication and transportation to religion, education and the extension of freedom; that the elementary division sponsored six subjects and the high school division the seventh, a finale called "The Oracle of Time," picturing the next hundred years; that the cast would come from the county's Black citizens; and that industrial exhibits would be in the vocational building, educational exhibits in the classrooms and antiques in the main school building.
What the source supports
That the school announced its own centennial pageant, built on classroom study, for May 21, 1936.
Uncertainty
An announcement. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of May 28 to June 11, 1936, a search that can miss an item. It is the school's own program, separate from the county's centennial celebration of July 1936.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The announcement.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 7, 1936, page 3: "Negro Life In County To Be Portrayed May 21"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-05-07 (publication)
Locator: Page 3, announcement "Negro Life In County To Be Portrayed May 21"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of July 16, 1936 reported that Clarke County's centennial celebration had opened on July 8 at the Berryville Horse Show grounds with a pageant of the county's past, and put the crowd at the first showing at 3,000.
What the source supports
What the Courier reported of the centennial's opening and its crowd.
Uncertainty
The crowd of 3,000 is the paper's own figure, for the first showing only, and no other count is used. The report was printed eight days after the opening.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The headline's crowd figure for the first showing.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 16 July 1936, page 1: report on the opening of the county centennial celebration
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-07-16 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, headline on the attendance at the first showing of the centennial pageant
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The report's date, place and crowd for the opening.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 16 July 1936, page 1: report on the opening of the county centennial celebration
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-07-16 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, report of the centennial's opening on July 8, the coronation and the pageant's first scenes
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-25. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1938
The Clarke Courier of February 17, 1938 announced that the home economics department of the Clarke County Training School would sponsor an art exhibit in the school auditorium on Sunday afternoon, February 20, shown again on the Monday evening, made up of a traveling loan exhibit from the art department of the Virginia State College for Negroes in Petersburg and contributions from the local schools of Clarke County, in three divisions: fine art, domestic art and industrial art.
What the source supports
That the school announced a February 1938 art exhibit pairing a college loan collection with local schools' work.
Uncertainty
An announcement. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of February 24 to March 3, 1938, a search that can miss an item. The guest speaker it names is not used.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The announcement.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., February 17, 1938, page 7: "Clarke Training School To Hold Art Exhibition"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1938-02-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, announcement "Clarke Training School To Hold Art Exhibition", first two paragraphs
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
May 1936, announced: the school's pageant "The Negro in Clarke County, 100 Years," built on seven study topics, with a high-school finale, "The Oracle of Time." No report of it was found.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 7, 1936, page 3. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 839 by 2578 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 7, 1936, page 3: "Negro Life In County To Be Portrayed May 21" Open the full image
February 1938, announced: an art exhibit pairing a loan collection from the Virginia State College for Negroes with the county schools' work, in fine, domestic and industrial art. No report of it was found.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), February 17, 1938, page 7. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 827 by 1431 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., February 17, 1938, page 7: "Clarke Training School To Hold Art Exhibition" Open the full image
July 1936: the county's own centennial pageant opened on July 8 at the Berryville Horse Show grounds, separate from the Training School's May pageant.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), July 16, 1936, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained PNG image of 880 by 3520 pixels, not scaled and re-encoded as JPEG for the web. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 16 July 1936, page 1: report on the opening of the county centennial celebration Open the full image
Games and a gym
For twelve years, the principal said in 1937, the county's schools for Black children had held a field day or a pageant every year to raise money and build interest. That year's field day promised relay, potato and sack races, pole vaulting, basketball and baseball, and a social at night.
By December 1938 the school fielded both girls' and boys' basketball teams. They opened the season by beating Leesburg High School, 15 to 8 and 49 to 29. In May 1939 the school's Athletic Association boasted of a splendid gym, and invited schools and communities to a "miniature olympic" on June 1, the same day as the League's bond rally.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1937
The Clarke Courier of April 29, 1937 reported E. T. Johnson's announcement that the Clarke County Training School's annual field and track events would be held on May 27 at the school grounds at Josephine City; that for the past twelve years the county's colored schools had staged either a field day or a pageant each year to raise funds and build interest; and that the day would bring relay, pursuit, potato and sack races, high and broad jumping and pole vaulting, basketball and baseball in the afternoon, and a social at night.
What the source supports
That the school announced a field day for May 27, 1937, as part of a twelve-year run of field days and pageants.
Uncertainty
An announcement. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 3 to 17, 1937, a search that can miss an item. The twelve years are the principal's count.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The announcement and the program.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 29, 1937, page 1: "Training School Plans Field Day"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1937-04-29 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, report "Training School Plans Field Day", the announcement and the program
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1938
The Clarke Courier of December 15, 1938 reported that the basketball teams of the Clarke County Training School had won both opening games with Leesburg High School on the Friday night before, the girls by 15 to 8 and the boys by 49 to 29.
What the source supports
That the school had girls' and boys' basketball teams in 1938, and their opening results.
Uncertainty
A short report. The players it lists are not named here.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report's first paragraph.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., December 15, 1938, page 4: "Clarke County Training School Wins Opener"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1938-12-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, report "Clarke County Training School Wins Opener", first paragraph
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939
The Clarke Courier of May 4, 1939 reported that the Athletic Association of the Clarke County Training School had just closed a successful indoor basketball tournament; that the school had a gymnasium it called splendid; and that on Thursday, June 1, 1939, under the auspices of the public schools of Clarke County, a "miniature olympic" would be staged, with schools and communities invited to enter and a social to end the night.
What the source supports
That the school had a gymnasium by 1939 and announced a "miniature olympic" for June 1, 1939.
Uncertainty
An announcement, and the association's own praise of its facilities. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 8 to 15, 1939, a search that can miss an item.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The announcement.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 4, 1939, page 8: "County Training School To Hold Small Olympic"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-04 (publication)
Locator: Page 8, announcement "County Training School To Hold Small Olympic"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939
The Clarke Courier of May 11, 1939 printed a note to the Training School's bond subscribers, signed by E. T. Johnson as president of the League. It said that in the previous school year nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a pledge card subscribing $1 a year toward the annual bond pledge; that the League usually paid its bond allotment of $500 on or about the first of June; that this year the big annual rally would be held on June 1, with a booth in the school auditorium where subscribers could pay their dollar and get a receipt; and that it was through organization that the patrons had a roomy school building with good facilities, and bus transportation for their children.
What the source supports
What the League told its bond subscribers in May 1939 about their dollar pledges, its annual $500 payment and the June 1 rally.
Uncertainty
The League's own statements in an appeal; "nearly every" is its wording, not a count. It announces the rally and the booth and does not report that the rally collected anything or that the 1939 allotment was paid. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 8 to 15, 1939, a search that can miss an item. The League is not identified with the county league of the 1920s. E. T. Johnson is named as printed and is not joined to any person record.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The appeal, its figures and its signature.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
December 1938: the girls beat Leesburg High School 15 to 8, and the boys 49 to 29.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), December 15, 1938, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 795 by 1414 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., December 15, 1938, page 4: "Clarke County Training School Wins Opener" Open the full image
May 1939, announced: after a successful indoor tournament in its gym, the school's Athletic Association invited schools and communities to a "miniature olympic" on June 1. No report of it was found.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 4, 1939, page 8. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 774 by 1628 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 4, 1939, page 8: "County Training School To Hold Small Olympic" Open the full image
Graduations
Commencement was a public accounting, too. The 1936 ceremony was announced with Arthur D. Wright, president of the Slater Fund, printed as the "John A. Slater Fund", as speaker, and friends who had pledged money to the school were asked to turn it in at the exercises. In 1937 nine students graduated. The Negro National Anthem was sung, the graduates heard an address by A. G. Richardson, of what the paper called the State Department in Richmond, and they received their diplomas from Archie F. Robertson.
In 1940 twelve seniors finished, and the program sounded like a report to the people who had paid for the school. Fannie J. Paige spoke on what the school tried to do, and Sophia J. Holmes on the school yesterday and today. Lucille Jackson and Elizabeth Smith spoke on what the school had meant to them, academically and vocationally, and Esten Thornton on what the community expected of the school.
That August the county School Board kept the lunch projects going at the Training School, and added new ones at the Millwood and White Post schools for Black children.
Ten years after the digging bees, the school the patrons had dug for sent out twelve graduates. The year before, its League had still been asking for a dollar at a time each June.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1936
The Clarke Courier of May 21, 1936 announced the Clarke County Training School's commencement for Tuesday, May 26, with the address to the graduates by Prof. Arthur D. Wright, printed as president of the "John A. Slater Fund," and asked friends of the school who had pledged funds to turn them in at the exercises. Diplomas were to be awarded by A. F. Robertson, superintendent of schools.
What the source supports
Who was announced to speak at the 1936 commencement, and that pledges were to be paid in there.
Uncertainty
An announcement. The paper prints "John A. Slater Fund"; the fund was the John F. Slater Fund. The students it names are not used.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The announcement.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 21, 1936, page 4: "Training School Finals Slated Tuesday Night"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1936-05-21 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, announcement "Training School Finals Slated Tuesday Night", first three paragraphs
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1937
The Clarke Courier of June 10, 1937 reported that the Clarke County Training School had graduated nine students at exercises on Tuesday night in the school, after a baccalaureate sermon by the Rev. F. de Lisle Pike; that after the invocation the Negro National Anthem was sung; that the address to the graduates was by A. G. Richardson of what the paper called the State Department in Richmond; and that Superintendent of Schools Archie F. Robertson awarded the diplomas.
What the source supports
That nine students graduated in 1937, and how the program ran.
Uncertainty
The paper's report. A. G. Richardson is named as printed and is not identified with any other A. G. Richardson. The graduates it lists are not named here.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 10, 1937, page 1: "Clarke Training School Graduates 9 At Finals"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1937-06-10 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, report "Clarke Training School Graduates 9 At Finals", the program
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1940
The Clarke Courier of June 13, 1940 reported that twelve seniors of the Clarke County Training School had graduated the week before. The program included addresses by Fannie J. Paige on what we try to do in our schools, Sophia J. Holmes on the school yesterday and today, Lucille Jackson on what the school had meant to her academically, Elizabeth Smith on what it had meant to her vocationally, and Esten Thornton on what the community expects of the school; Superintendent A. F. Robertson awarded the diplomas.
What the source supports
That twelve seniors graduated in 1940, and what the program's addresses were about.
Uncertainty
The paper's report. The speakers are named as printed; their roles in the school are not given, and they are not identified with names in the graduate list or in other records.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The report.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 13, 1940, page 8: "Twelve Seniors Finish At Training School"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1940-06-13 (publication)
Locator: Page 8, report "Twelve Seniors Finish At Training School", the program
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1940
The Clarke Courier of August 15, 1940 reported that the county School Board had authorized the continuance of lunch projects at several schools, among them the Clarke County Training School, and two new projects for the year, at Millwood colored and White Post colored.
What the source supports
That the Training School's lunch project was continued in 1940 and new ones were added at two schools for Black children.
Uncertainty
An authorization by the board, not a report of meals served. The neighborhood schools are not identified with school records of other years.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The paragraph on lunch projects.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 15, 1940, page 1: "Patrons Invited To Board Sessions"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1940-08-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 1, School Board report, paragraph on lunch projects
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The same report of April 17, 1930 said the colored people were holding two digging bees that week, on Wednesday and Friday; that they had gathered on Wednesday in large numbers to make good on "Promise Number 1," to dig out the foundation; and that dollars had begun to come in toward Promise Number 2, "which is more binding, covered by bonds to the sum of $8,000." It printed a verse by E. T. Johnson, principal of the school, with the line "For most assuredly impatient dirt must fly."
What the source supports
That the patrons dug by volunteer bees in April 1930, and that a second promise was secured by $8,000 in bonds.
Uncertainty
The paper's account, partly in the principal's words. The $8,000 is a promise secured by bonds, not a cost; the report does not say who held the bonds or on what terms, and it is not reconciled with the contract price, the Rosenwald card's total or the yearly $500. The report prints "the colored people of the country"; the rest of it concerns the county.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The bees and the two promises.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the digging bees and the two promises
Relevant passageare holding two digging bees this week, one on Wednesday and one o[n] Friday ... gathered Wednesday in large numbers to make good on Promise Number 1. To dig out the foundation. Dollars have already begun to pour in toward Promise Number 2, which is more binding, covered by bonds to the sum of $8,000.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The principal's verse.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the principal's verse "Digging Spree Again Friday"
Relevant passageFor most assuredly impatient dirt must fly.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939
The Clarke Courier of May 11, 1939 printed a note to the Training School's bond subscribers, signed by E. T. Johnson as president of the League. It said that in the previous school year nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a pledge card subscribing $1 a year toward the annual bond pledge; that the League usually paid its bond allotment of $500 on or about the first of June; that this year the big annual rally would be held on June 1, with a booth in the school auditorium where subscribers could pay their dollar and get a receipt; and that it was through organization that the patrons had a roomy school building with good facilities, and bus transportation for their children.
What the source supports
What the League told its bond subscribers in May 1939 about their dollar pledges, its annual $500 payment and the June 1 rally.
Uncertainty
The League's own statements in an appeal; "nearly every" is its wording, not a count. It announces the rally and the booth and does not report that the rally collected anything or that the 1939 allotment was paid. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 8 to 15, 1939, a search that can miss an item. The League is not identified with the county league of the 1920s. E. T. Johnson is named as printed and is not joined to any person record.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The appeal, its figures and its signature.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1939, and one more
The League's 1939 appeal for its annual $500 bond allotment, paid on or about the first of June, matches in amount and season the $500 a year the patrons pledged in 1930 toward the building and the June rally at which they began raising it. No record read says that the 1939 payment was the same pledge.
What the source supports
That the story's link between the 1930 pledge and the 1939 appeal is a reading of the League's notices, not a stated fact.
Uncertainty
Same sum, same June rally and the same principal, but the paper never says the 1939 allotment is the 1930 pledge. The League's accounts and the School Board's minutes, which might settle it, were not read.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The 1939 allotment of $500 about the first of June.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The 1930 pledge of $500 annually.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same contribution, the annual pledge, the planned school and the dollar envelopes
Relevant passagewe have already pledged ourselves to raise $500 annually ... an imposing brick , six-teacher plan school with auditorium ... One thousand "My Dollar Fund Rally" envelopes have been distributed to the colored people throughout the county ... but not less if you wish your name to go on the cornerstone record.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The first annual $500 drive at the June 1930 pageant.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 5, 1930, page 7: "Cornerstone of New School For Colored To Be Laid Tomorrow"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-05 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, announcement of the cornerstone laying and the Rally Day Drive
Relevant passagetomorrow (Friday June 6) is the day for the laying of the cornerstone to the new school building which is now being erected in Josephine City. This same day they will hold their sixth annual pageant and "Rally Day Drive," the purpose of the latter to help in the first $500, which they have pledged to raise annually toward the new building.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
May 1936, announced: commencement on May 26 with Prof. Arthur D. Wright, printed as president of the "John A. Slater Fund," as speaker; friends who had pledged funds were asked to turn them in.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), May 21, 1936, page 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 803 by 2080 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 21, 1936, page 4: "Training School Finals Slated Tuesday Night" Open the full image
June 1937: nine graduates, the Negro National Anthem, an address by A. G. Richardson of what the paper called the State Department in Richmond, and diplomas from Archie F. Robertson.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 10, 1937, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 794 by 2160 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 10, 1937, page 1: "Clarke Training School Graduates 9 At Finals" Open the full image
June 1940: twelve seniors graduated, with addresses by Fannie J. Paige, Sophia J. Holmes, Lucille Jackson, Elizabeth Smith and Esten Thornton, and diplomas from A. F. Robertson.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), June 13, 1940, page 8. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 787 by 2310 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 13, 1940, page 8: "Twelve Seniors Finish At Training School" Open the full image
August 1940: the School Board continued the lunch projects at the Training School and other schools, and added new ones at Millwood colored and White Post colored.
Clarke Courier (Berryville, Va.), August 15, 1940, page 1. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. Rights Changes: The retained file itself, shown at its own 820 by 2579 pixels: not scaled, not re-encoded. Nothing retouched or added.
Source: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., August 15, 1940, page 1: "Patrons Invited To Board Sessions" Open the full image
What happened next
The Courier's report of the dedication and its debts continues in Clarke County Training School: opening day and the debt that followed, which follows the patrons' report of the ceremony, the unpaid chairs and the fundraising that continued afterward. The final discharge of the building debt remains unresolved.
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The same report said that a few days before the dedication the patrons were informed that the county did not furnish chairs for the auditorium, took the job on themselves, and faced a debt of $680 with a little over $100 in hand toward it; and that the contractor had pushed the work unceasingly "and without a let up," making it possible to enter the building.
What the source supports
That the patrons reported taking on the auditorium chairs and a $680 debt for them.
Uncertainty
The report's own figures; no account of the chair debt or its payment was read. The $680 is not added to any other figure.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The chairs, the debt and the contractor.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 11, 1930, page 5: "Dedicate Negro Training School"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-09-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 5, same report, first column: the cost of the digging, the chairs and the contractor (line-end hyphens joined)
Relevant passageDigging out the foundation cost the patrons of the county $375; paid for in full by cash and personal work. A few days before the date set for the dedication, we were informed that the county did not furnish chairs for the spacious auditoriums. So we took it upon ourselves to tackle that job, the result, $680 debt looks us in the face with a little over $100 in hand towards it.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1930
The same report said it suspected that when school opened "on the 12th" there would hardly be room to hold the entrants, and closed: "The pile of rock lies there uncrushed; the drive-in must be rocked before the miry weather sets in; the chairs are unpaid for, and our bond must be met." It said a quartet culled from among the boys was traveling with the principal everywhere, singing the school needs into the hearts of the people, and that readers "would do well to give us a hearing." The report's headline said the building was ready for opening tomorrow.
What the source supports
That in September 1930 the patrons reported the drive unfinished, the chairs unpaid and a bond to be met, and a quartet raising money.
Uncertainty
The opening is expected, not reported. The machine text reads "the 13th"; the page image reads "the 12th", which fits the headline's "tomorrow" (Friday, September 12). The report names no amount or holder for "our bond".
Source
Evidence role: supports. The expected opening on the 12th.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 11, 1930, page 5: "Dedicate Negro Training School"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-09-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 5, same report, second column: the speakers, Prof. W. D. Graham (so printed), Lawyer T. C. Walker, and the opening of school (line-end hyphens joined)
Relevant passageLawyer T. C. Walker came all the way from Gloucester as he has done on several occasions to talk to members of our group, and spoke in the same jovial and jocular vein, entertaining and instructive; sometimes bordering upon the serious. Lawyer Walker has built up quite a school in his community for the boys and girls of Gloucester and, too, is a trustee of Manassas Industrial School.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Evidence role: supports. The closing appeal and the quartet.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., September 11, 1930, page 5: "Dedicate Negro Training School"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-09-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 5, same report, closing paragraph: the rock pile, the chairs, the bond and the quartet (line-end hyphens joined)
Relevant passageBut gentlemen: The pile of rock lies there uncrushed; the drive-in must be rocked before the miry weather sets in; the chairs are unpaid for, and our bond must be met. Culled out from among the boys who have from time to time come under our notice; we have organized a quartet, and that quartet is traveling with the principal everywhere, singing the school needs into the hearts of the people. You would do well to give us a hearing.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Source note: Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., 1931
A paragraph in the Clarke Courier of April 30, 1931 urged readers to boost the Berryville Training School pageant of May 15th, gave the school's supporters credit for the modern building and equipment, and said the proceeds of the pageant were devoted to curtailment of the building debt assumed by the School League.
What the source supports
That in 1931 the paper described the building debt as assumed by the School League, with the pageant's proceeds going to reduce it.
Uncertainty
Paraphrased; the issue's rights are not established. An unsigned paragraph; it gives no amount for the debt.
Source
Evidence role: supports. The paragraph.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 30, 1931, page 4: paragraph urging support for the Training School pageant
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1931-04-30 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, paragraph beginning "Boost the Berryville Training School Pageant, May 15th"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
About the accountsWhat the evidence says
Clarke Courier reports of 1930 document the contract, the patrons' digging and the cornerstone, and the Courier of 1936 to 1940 records the League's bus, the judging teams, announced pageants and games, and three commencements. A Rosenwald Fund card and a Slater Fund list add outside records of the building and the school.
Each Courier item was read on a scan of the printed page, and the two outside records on the collections' own page images. Several events are announcements with no report found afterward. The Rosenwald card probably, not certainly, describes the Training School building, and the contract price, the card's total, the bonds and the yearly pledge are separate measures that are never added together.
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
The Clarke Courier of April 17, 1930 reported that the contract for the erection of the colored school building had been awarded to Kelley and Kelley, contractors of Bluemont, Va., at $17,350.00, less $407.00 for a one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system and less fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school. The building was to be of 8-inch cinder block faced with 4-inch brick, with an auditorium and four separate classrooms and two more cut off from the auditorium by folding doors; it would be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, with instruction in vocational agriculture as a feature. The Courier of May 15, 1930 said the School Board of Clarke County had awarded the contract a few weeks earlier, at the same price and deductions.
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsThe Clarke Courier of April 17, 1930 reported that the contract for the erection of the colored school building had been awarded to Kelley and Kelley, contractors of Bluemont, Va., at $17,350.00, less $407.00 for a one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system and less fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school. The building was to be of 8-inch cinder block faced with 4-inch brick, with an auditorium and four separate classrooms and two more cut off from the auditorium by folding doors; it would be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, with instruction in vocational agriculture as a feature. The Courier of May 15, 1930 said the School Board of Clarke County had awarded the contract a few weeks earlier, at the same price and deductions.
What the source supports
The contract for the Training School's 1930 building, its price, its deductions and the plan, as the Courier reported them.
Uncertainty
Newspaper reports of a contract; the contract itself was not inspected. The price is the contract price, not the building's final cost, and it is not reconciled with, or added to, the Rosenwald card's total, the $8,000 in bonds or the yearly $500. The machine-read text gives $17,360; the page image reads $17,350.00. Kelley and Kelley are not identified with any other record.
Source
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The price and the two deductions.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, report of the contract, the price and deductions
Relevant passageThe contract price is $17,350.00 less a deduction of $407.00 for one-pipe modulating heating plant instead of the two-pipe system, and less a deduction of fifty cents per cubic yard for excavation made by the patrons of the school.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The construction, the plan and the building's use.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., April 17, 1930, page 4: report "Colored People Digging Foundation" on the contract for the colored school building
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-04-17 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same report, the construction and plan of the building
Relevant passageConstruction will be 8-in. cinder block faced with 4-in. brick ... building to consist of auditorium and four separate class rooms, with two additional class rooms cut off by means of folding doors in the auditorium. This school will be for the use of the Clarke County Training School, and a feature of the school will be instruction in vocational agriculture
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The School Board's award, restated with the same price.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, opening paragraphs: the contract restated and the digging completed
Relevant passageA few weeks ago the School Board of Clarke county awarded the contract for the erection of the colored school building to Kelley and Kelley, Bluemont, Va. contractors, at the price of $17,350.00 ... The digging of the foundation has been completed
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
The Clarke Courier of May 15, 1930 reported that the digging of the foundation had been completed, and under a photograph captioned as Superintendent A. F. Robertson breaking the ground on April 17 it printed a contribution from E. T. Johnson, principal of the school. He wrote that Robertson had lined up the trench for the new building, with Johnson, the vocation teacher Morgan Edwards and some of the pupils beginning the excavation; that, as his verse had said, "Impatient dirt must fly"; and that the foundation had been dug by the patrons at a cost of a little over $300, with many white friends giving aid, some in cash and some in truck service moving dirt.
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsThe Clarke Courier of May 15, 1930 reported that the digging of the foundation had been completed, and under a photograph captioned as Superintendent A. F. Robertson breaking the ground on April 17 it printed a contribution from E. T. Johnson, principal of the school. He wrote that Robertson had lined up the trench for the new building, with Johnson, the vocation teacher Morgan Edwards and some of the pupils beginning the excavation; that, as his verse had said, "Impatient dirt must fly"; and that the foundation had been dug by the patrons at a cost of a little over $300, with many white friends giving aid, some in cash and some in truck service moving dirt.
What the source supports
Who broke ground for the building, that the patrons dug its foundation, and what the digging cost, as the Courier and the principal reported them.
Uncertainty
Largely the principal's own account. The photograph was not examined and is not reproduced; the date comes from its caption. Morgan Edwards is not identified with the M. J. Edwards of 1936 or anyone else. The principal's history in the same piece, of Training School privileges granted seven years before and ground first broken at the May 1929 pageant, is not used.
Source
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The digging completed.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, opening paragraphs: the contract restated and the digging completed
Relevant passageA few weeks ago the School Board of Clarke county awarded the contract for the erection of the colored school building to Kelley and Kelley, Bluemont, Va. contractors, at the price of $17,350.00 ... The digging of the foundation has been completed
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The groundbreaking and who was there, and the quoted verse.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same page, the photograph caption and the principal's account of the groundbreaking
Relevant passagePictured above is Superintendent A. F. Robertson breaking the ground on April 17 ... in the above cut you see him in company with E. T. Johnson, the vocation teacher, Morgan Edwards and some of the pupils beginning the excavation. ... "Impatient dirt must fly"
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The cost and the help.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 15, 1930, page 4: report on the colored school building and a contribution from its principal, E. T. Johnson
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-05-15 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, same contribution, the cost of the digging and the help received
Relevant passageThe foundation has been dug by the patrons at a cost of a little over $300. Many of our white friends have contributed aid, some in cash, some in truck service in moving dirt
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
- That it happened✓ Supported by a source
The Clarke Courier of June 12, 1930 printed E. T. Johnson's account of the cornerstone day. It rained. The parade started ahead of time, led by the Charles Town band and the Odd Fellows of Millwood, with the schools and communities following alphabetically, Berryville, Boyce, Bristoe, Louisville, Millwood, Stone Bridge and White Post. It moved down Liberty Street to Railroad Street, up Main into Church, and out Church into Josephine; the speeches were made between showers; and after three attempts the stone was placed in the north east corner of the Clarke County Training School.
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceThat it happenedThe Clarke Courier of June 12, 1930 printed E. T. Johnson's account of the cornerstone day. It rained. The parade started ahead of time, led by the Charles Town band and the Odd Fellows of Millwood, with the schools and communities following alphabetically, Berryville, Boyce, Bristoe, Louisville, Millwood, Stone Bridge and White Post. It moved down Liberty Street to Railroad Street, up Main into Church, and out Church into Josephine; the speeches were made between showers; and after three attempts the stone was placed in the north east corner of the Clarke County Training School.
What the source supports
That the cornerstone of the Training School was laid, with a parade through Berryville to Josephine City.
Uncertainty
The principal's own account, printed as his contribution; it also refers to "The Rev. Johnston". It does not give the date, which the June 5 announcement set for Friday, June 6. The lodge and the band are named only as printed.
Source
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The parade, the route and the setting of the stone.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 12, 1930, page 4: "Cornerstone of School For The Colored Is Laid"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-12 (publication)
Locator: Page 4, the principal's account, the parade, its route and the setting of the stone
Relevant passageIt has been said that our people are never on time, but the parade started ahead of expected time with Charles Town band ... After three attempts the stone was placed in the north east corner of the Clarke County Training School.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
Reporting Evidence role: contextualizes. The announced date.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., June 5, 1930, page 7: "Cornerstone of New School For Colored To Be Laid Tomorrow"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1930-06-05 (publication)
Locator: Page 7, announcement of the cornerstone laying and the Rally Day Drive
Relevant passagetomorrow (Friday June 6) is the day for the laying of the cornerstone to the new school building which is now being erected in Josephine City. This same day they will hold their sixth annual pageant and "Rally Day Drive," the purpose of the latter to help in the first $500, which they have pledged to raise annually toward the new building.
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
- An account exists✓ Supported by a source
The Clarke Courier of May 11, 1939 printed a note to the Training School's bond subscribers, signed by E. T. Johnson as president of the League. It said that in the previous school year nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a pledge card subscribing $1 a year toward the annual bond pledge; that the League usually paid its bond allotment of $500 on or about the first of June; that this year the big annual rally would be held on June 1, with a booth in the school auditorium where subscribers could pay their dollar and get a receipt; and that it was through organization that the patrons had a roomy school building with good facilities, and bus transportation for their children.
See the evidence
✓ Supported by a sourceAn account existsThe Clarke Courier of May 11, 1939 printed a note to the Training School's bond subscribers, signed by E. T. Johnson as president of the League. It said that in the previous school year nearly every Black resident of Clarke County had signed a pledge card subscribing $1 a year toward the annual bond pledge; that the League usually paid its bond allotment of $500 on or about the first of June; that this year the big annual rally would be held on June 1, with a booth in the school auditorium where subscribers could pay their dollar and get a receipt; and that it was through organization that the patrons had a roomy school building with good facilities, and bus transportation for their children.
What the source supports
What the League told its bond subscribers in May 1939 about their dollar pledges, its annual $500 payment and the June 1 rally.
Uncertainty
The League's own statements in an appeal; "nearly every" is its wording, not a count. It announces the rally and the booth and does not report that the rally collected anything or that the 1939 allotment was paid. No report of how it went was found in the machine-read text of the issues of June 8 to 15, 1939, a search that can miss an item. The League is not identified with the county league of the 1920s. E. T. Johnson is named as printed and is not joined to any person record.
Source
Reporting Evidence role: supports. The appeal, its figures and its signature.
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va., May 11, 1939, page 2: "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay"
Clarke Courier, Berryville, Va. · 1939-05-11 (publication)
Locator: Page 2, appeal "Colored School Bond Holders Asked To Pay", signed by E. T. Johnson, President of League
Checked: Original inspected. A digital reproduction was inspected; no original has been handled.
Open sourceSource family: clarke-courier. Multiple passages from one source are not independent witnesses.
AI-assisted source check (Claude Opus 5.5) · 2026-09-26. How this project checks its sources
Each statement above is assessed on its own evidence. Nothing here is averaged, scored or voted on, and a well-attributed account can be documented while what it describes stays unconfirmed.
Source note
The account rests on the Clarke Courier, 1930–1940, read on the Library of Congress's page images, and on two outside records: the Julius Rosenwald Fund's card for a "Berryville School", in Fisk University's Rosenwald Fund Collection, and the John F. Slater Fund's Proceedings and Reports for 1929–30.
No report of how four announced events went was found in the following issues of the Courier: the May 1936 pageant, the 1937 field day, the 1938 art exhibit, and the June 1939 rally and miniature olympic. They are described as announced.
The Rosenwald card's identification with the Training School is a strong probability, not a certainty. The contract price, the card's total, the $8,000 in bonds and the yearly $500 are separate measures and are not added together; the link between the 1930 pledge and the 1939 appeal rests on the League's own notices. The 1938 budget item was a proposal, and the September route list does not say that its Bus No. 3 is the bus the budget described.
Names are given as printed. The principal appears as both E. T. Johnson and E. T. Johnston, and the superintendent as A. F. Robertson, and in the Slater list as A. F. Robinson. The 1930 vocational teacher, Morgan Edwards, and the 1936 team's director, M. J. Edwards, are not identified as the same man here.
Not read for this account: the county School Board's minutes, the League's own accounts, the Virginia Board of Education's reports for these years, the Slater Fund's lists after 1930 and the New Farmers of America's convention records. Every source item used here is shown from its page image or record, with a link to the original.
What do the school board's accounts show about the patrons' annual $500 obligation and when, if ever, the building debt was discharged?
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Go deeper: every source under this story Follow another threadThe ground they kept: Milton Valley Cemetery
Another Josephine City institution that Black families around Berryville paid for a dollar at a time; the two accounts share a neighborhood and a way of raising money, not any person or organization.