Eleanor Roosevelt School

Celebrate Black History Month by learning the story and impact of the Eleanor Roosevelt School. We revisit President Roosevelt’s 1937 school dedication speech and the Fort Valley State University original disparity research. Come hear the plans to reopen the Eleanor Roosevelt School, presented at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Memorial Museum.

What are the Rosenwald Schools? The Rosenwald Schools are responsible for educating over 660,000 African American children from 1912 until 1935. The Eleanor Roosevelt School was the last Rosenwald school to be built, commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and named after the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald met on May 18, 1911. Booker T. Washington was an African American leader, educator, philanthropist, and president of Tuskegee Institute, now known as Tuskegee University. Julius Rosenwald was a Jewish-American philanthropist who was the part-owner and president of Sears, Roebuck & Company. Together, they started a movement located in 15 southern states. Eventually, the Julius Rosenwald Fund contributed to the construction of over 4,978 schools, 163 shops, and 217 teachers' homes between 1912-1932 and 1936-1937.