Title
From Segregation to Integration: A History of African-American Education in West Virginia, 1862-1971
Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
History
Committee Chair
Elizabeth Fones-Wolf
Committee Member
Ken Fones-Wolf
Committee Member
Sam Stack
Committee Member
William Hal Gorby
Committee Member
James Siekmeier
Abstract
It takes a village to finish a doctoral program. My village includes many people who supported me and encouraged over a number of years. I want to thank my advisor, Liz Fones-Wolf, for believing in me. She came to my home, crawled on the floor and played with my toddlers while simultaneously encouraging me to take my exams and start writing. When Melody Meadows asked if I could pinch hit for a semester and teach a class at West Virginia Wesleyan College, the short-term job turned into a tenure track position because she pushed me to take my comprehensive exams in that subtle ways of hers. Dean James Moore gave me the gift of a sabbatical so I could finish my research and draft my dissertation. My husband, Jason, took over the reigns as I poured over documents in just about every room in the house, making sure I was fed and had all the essentials. My children Darby and Derek spent a good chunk of their formidable years watching me write. My daughter Kyatt witnessed much of the writing from afar due to her own academic commitments, but was never too busy to offer words of support. It is my hope that all three children realize that success is built on diligence, commitment, and consistency. My mother, Debra Swank, easily the most gifted writer in our family, never pressured me by asking about timelines. She was always interested in the work and so excited to see the outcome. I am particularly thankful to my family and the large number of people who were willing to share their experiences with me. The Brown decision was made by the Supreme Court, but these lovely folks endured segregation. Many of them integrated schools and struggled to break the bonds of decades of Jim Crow in the process. This was a tall order for children and they are indeed revolutionaries.
Recommended Citation
Bailey, Tamara Denmark, "From Segregation to Integration: A History of African-American Education in West Virginia, 1862-1971" (2019). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 7381.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/7381
Embargo Reason
Publication Pending