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Higher Education

The restrictive race customs of the day dictated instruction that prepared African Americans for manual labor. Men learned such crafts as plastering, joinery, and painting. Women were taught domestic sciences, such as ironing, dressmaking, and food preparation. The emphasis on vocational education reflected the view that job opportunities for African Americans were and would continue to be limited.

These images can be seen at the University of Virginia Library site:

1. Plastering Department, Hampton Institute, c. 1900
2. Joinery Class, Hampton Institute, c. 1900
3. Painting Shop, Hampton Institute, c. 1900
4. Laundry Class, Hampton Institute, c. 1900
5. Dressmaking Class, Hampton Institute, c. 1900

Courtesy of The Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library, The Jackson Davis Collection of African-American Educational Photographs, Number L1213, L1211, L1210, L1207, L1206

Other Exhibit Items

Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute	Frank Trigg, Jr.
Virginia Collegiate and Industrial Institute	Commencement Invite VCII
Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute