Gregory Normal School

Gregory Normal School was an American segregated high school in Wilmington, North Carolina for African American students, that operated from 1868 to 1921.[1] It was the first school admitting African American students in Wilmington after the American Civil War.[2] It had been named the Wilmington Normal School, and the Gregory Normal Institute.

The school's campus, c. 1910

History

It was originally known as Wilmington Normal School when it was organized by a group of eight Protestant missionaries from New England who were sponsored by the American Missionary Association.[3] It was a high school-level school that sought to prepare its students for studying in colleges and universities elsewhere.

It was renamed the Gregory Normal Institute in 1883 in honor of James J. H. Gregory of Marblehead, Massachusetts, who made a substantial donation to the school's operations.[3][4]

In 1921, the classes ceased at this site.[3] The Gregory Congregational Church (now Gregory Congregational United) that stood next to the school is still active.[3][2] A public elementary school located a few blocks away from the former site is named the Gregory School.[3]

Alumni

George Edward Davis,[5] professor at Biddle University and later supervisor of Rosenwald School building
Addie Whiteman Dickerson (1878–1940), businessperson, politician, clubwoman, suffragist, and peace activist[6]
Caroline Sadgwar Manly, one of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and wife of Alexander Manly[7]
Bertha McNeill (1887–1979), activist and educator[8]

References

Rubin, Richard (April 25, 1988). "Dedication of state marker reminds some of school days". Star-News. p. 8 – via Google News.
"Historic district would save city landmarks". Hickory Daily Record. January 10, 2023. pp. A3. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Hill, Michael (1987). "Gregory Normal Institute". NCpedia.
"Gregory Normal School". The Free Press. June 27, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Newkirk, Richard T.; Stack, Claudia (February 27, 2019). "Local Shout: The Other George Davis". PortCity Daily.
"Biographical Sketch of Addie Whiteman Dickerson". Alexander Street. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022.
Staton, John (March 15, 2023). "How a Wilmington woman is connected to 1898 and to music history". Wilmington StarNews.
Ware, Susan (2004). Ware, Susan; Braukman, Stacy Lorraine (eds.). Notable American Women: a Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-674-01488-6 – via Internet Archive.

Additional sources

History of Education in North Carolina, p. 329

External links

Media related to Gregory Normal Institute at Wikimedia Commons

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[1] Rubin, Richard (April 25, 1988). "Dedication of state marker reminds some of school days". Star-News. p. 8 – via Google News.

[:0-2] "Historic district would save city landmarks". Hickory Daily Record. January 10, 2023. pp. A3. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[:1-3] Hill, Michael (1987). "Gregory Normal Institute". NCpedia.

[4] "Gregory Normal School". The Free Press. June 27, 1902. p. 1. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] Newkirk, Richard T.; Stack, Claudia (February 27, 2019). "Local Shout: The Other George Davis". PortCity Daily.

[Alexander_Street-6] "Biographical Sketch of Addie Whiteman Dickerson". Alexander Street. Archived from the original on March 14, 2022.

[7] Staton, John (March 15, 2023). "How a Wilmington woman is connected to 1898 and to music history". Wilmington StarNews.

[8] Ware, Susan (2004). Ware, Susan; Braukman, Stacy Lorraine (eds.). Notable American Women: a Biographical Dictionary Completing the Twentieth Century. Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-674-01488-6 – via Internet Archive.