A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America
This exhibition explores the history and legacy of one of the most transformative educational initiatives in American history forged by Booker T. Washington, a Black educator, and Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish businessman and philanthropist. Between 1912 and 1937, their program provided seed money to build thousands of schools for Black children across the segregated South. These schools countered the deep educational disparities during Jim Crow and had a profound and lasting impact on our nation.
Inspired by this remarkable story, contemporary photographer Andrew Feiler traveled around the South to document Rosenwald schools and their communities. This exhibition showcases 26 of his photographs and stories. In addition, there is a VMHC-organized section devoted to Rosenwald schools in Virginia with historical artifacts, images, oral histories with alumni, and interactive elements. Feiler’s powerful photographs, combined with the Virginia-specific contents, provide a testament to the power of education and interracial collaboration.
