William Henry Spencer
Encyclopedia
William Henry Spencer (September 1857 – May 30, 1925) was an Afro-American educator in Columbus
, Georgia
, in the late 19th and early 20th century.
, in Columbus
, Muscogee County
, Georgia
. He was raised by his father along with his sisters: Mary, Dora, Hattie, Ella, Leila and Lidia; and a brother, Samuel.
Spencer attended the Asbury Chapel, a Columbus public school designated for Afro-American children.
After graduating, he applied for and received a certificate for teaching in 1875, marking the beginning of a 50 year career in education
.
Spencer began teaching in the Harris County
schools. He soon found a position in the Columbus Public Schools. Spencer taught at 5th Avenue School in Columbus under Mr. Peters.
They had five children: Ethel, Annie, Alma, Pearl and William Henry Jr.
The Spencers lived on 4th Avenue in Columbus. Today, the Spencer House is on the National Register of Historic Places
.
ended, schools to educate the Freedman
appeared throughout the south. In Columbus, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
established Claflin School
in 1868.
By 1872, schools for Afro-American citizens became a part of the city school system. Columbus Public Schools had 1,174 Afro-American students attending. Julia Hampton was one of the first Afro-American teachers in the system. The first school was in rented quarters, Temperance Hall.
In the 1870s, much was done to continue the establishment of schools for blacks. A. J. Ketchum became one of the first black principals in the school system. George Foster Peabody
gave the Columbus black schools $600. At that time there were 5 black teachers and 13 white teachers. In June 1875, the school board bought the African Methodist Church on Mercer Street for $800 with 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) of land. This was converted for school purposes and a two-story frame building with four rooms was built on the site. In October 1888, the street and the school name was changed to 6th Street.
By 1880 the school board acquired Claflin School. Spencer was placed in charge of Claflin School in spite of his not receiving a college degree. He was promoted on his ability and passion for the education of Afro-Americans in Columbus.
Miss Anna Love and Miss Lucy Love, both graduates of the Columbus Public Schools, were elected teachers at Claflin. A report on school enrollment
shows total black enrollment was 517, surpassing white enrollment at 462.
In 1882, black schools were overcrowded with enrollment of 827, 599 attending. In May, 160 Black citizens petitioned the Board asking that the grades of their school be raised a year to a total of 9 years. This was not granted since the schools were already overcrowded. It was suggested that an additional story be added to 6th Street school.
The Black citizens of Columbus continued to press the Board for a high school
but there was no suitable building to do so.
Spencer continued on as principal of Claflin. In addition to Claflin, there were three other schools for blacks: Sixth Avenue, Fourth Street and 28th Street schools.
As the Afro-American population grew in Columbus, more schools for blacks were created and Spencer was named Supervisor of Colored Schools while retaining his position as principal at 5th Avenue School.
He improved himself academically and eventually was able to enroll at Clark College
in Atlanta
.
He was given broad powers in his new role on almost everything affecting the education of Afro-Americans - from the improvements of the physical facilities, to the hiring and firing of teachers. He was adamant in promoting efforts to improve the curriculum
of the black schools in Columbus.
Spencer's main educational goal was to persuade the Columbus Public Schools to provide an accredited high school for Afro-Americans.
Up until this time, the schools for blacks in Columbus only went to the ninth grade. Parents had to send their children to schools outside of Columbus, usually to Atlanta, if they wanted to go beyond the ninth grade. Eventually, the Board did add one more grade, but Spencer was adamant that a fully accredited high school for Afro-Americans be created in the City of Columbus. A conditional promise was elicited from the Board contingent on the availability of funds.
Spencer did not live to see his dream become a reality. He was stricken with appendicitis
and died on May 30, 1925.
The Board, however, did live up to its promise and erected a fully accredited high school for Afro Americans on Tenth Avenue in 1930. The school was named William Henry Spencer High School his honor.
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Early years
He was born September 1857 to Henry Spencer, a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, in Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...
, Muscogee County
Muscogee County, Georgia
Muscogee County is a county located on the central western border of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Columbus, Georgia-Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population was 186,291. The 2009 Census Estimate shows a population of 190,414...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He was raised by his father along with his sisters: Mary, Dora, Hattie, Ella, Leila and Lidia; and a brother, Samuel.
Spencer attended the Asbury Chapel, a Columbus public school designated for Afro-American children.
After graduating, he applied for and received a certificate for teaching in 1875, marking the beginning of a 50 year career in education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
.
Spencer began teaching in the Harris County
Harris County, Georgia
Harris County is located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on December 14, 1827. As of 2000, the population was 23,695. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 29,073. The county seat is Hamilton...
schools. He soon found a position in the Columbus Public Schools. Spencer taught at 5th Avenue School in Columbus under Mr. Peters.
Family life
Spencer married Martha Love in 1879.They had five children: Ethel, Annie, Alma, Pearl and William Henry Jr.
The Spencers lived on 4th Avenue in Columbus. Today, the Spencer House is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Career
After the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
ended, schools to educate the Freedman
Freedman
A freedman is a former slave who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, slaves became freedmen either by manumission or emancipation ....
appeared throughout the south. In Columbus, the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
The Freedmen's Bureau, was a U.S. federal government agency that aided distressed freedmen in 1865–1869, during the Reconstruction era of the United States....
established Claflin School
Claflin School
Claflin School, a former public elementary school, is located at 110-112 Washington Park, Newtonville, Massachusetts, and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 16, 1984.-National Register listing:*Claflin School...
in 1868.
By 1872, schools for Afro-American citizens became a part of the city school system. Columbus Public Schools had 1,174 Afro-American students attending. Julia Hampton was one of the first Afro-American teachers in the system. The first school was in rented quarters, Temperance Hall.
In the 1870s, much was done to continue the establishment of schools for blacks. A. J. Ketchum became one of the first black principals in the school system. George Foster Peabody
George Foster Peabody
George Foster Peabody was a banker and philanthropist.-Early life:...
gave the Columbus black schools $600. At that time there were 5 black teachers and 13 white teachers. In June 1875, the school board bought the African Methodist Church on Mercer Street for $800 with 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) of land. This was converted for school purposes and a two-story frame building with four rooms was built on the site. In October 1888, the street and the school name was changed to 6th Street.
By 1880 the school board acquired Claflin School. Spencer was placed in charge of Claflin School in spite of his not receiving a college degree. He was promoted on his ability and passion for the education of Afro-Americans in Columbus.
Miss Anna Love and Miss Lucy Love, both graduates of the Columbus Public Schools, were elected teachers at Claflin. A report on school enrollment
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
shows total black enrollment was 517, surpassing white enrollment at 462.
In 1882, black schools were overcrowded with enrollment of 827, 599 attending. In May, 160 Black citizens petitioned the Board asking that the grades of their school be raised a year to a total of 9 years. This was not granted since the schools were already overcrowded. It was suggested that an additional story be added to 6th Street school.
The Black citizens of Columbus continued to press the Board for a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
but there was no suitable building to do so.
Spencer continued on as principal of Claflin. In addition to Claflin, there were three other schools for blacks: Sixth Avenue, Fourth Street and 28th Street schools.
As the Afro-American population grew in Columbus, more schools for blacks were created and Spencer was named Supervisor of Colored Schools while retaining his position as principal at 5th Avenue School.
He improved himself academically and eventually was able to enroll at Clark College
Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University is a private, historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia. It was formed in 1988 with the consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University...
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
He was given broad powers in his new role on almost everything affecting the education of Afro-Americans - from the improvements of the physical facilities, to the hiring and firing of teachers. He was adamant in promoting efforts to improve the curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
of the black schools in Columbus.
Spencer's main educational goal was to persuade the Columbus Public Schools to provide an accredited high school for Afro-Americans.
Up until this time, the schools for blacks in Columbus only went to the ninth grade. Parents had to send their children to schools outside of Columbus, usually to Atlanta, if they wanted to go beyond the ninth grade. Eventually, the Board did add one more grade, but Spencer was adamant that a fully accredited high school for Afro-Americans be created in the City of Columbus. A conditional promise was elicited from the Board contingent on the availability of funds.
Spencer did not live to see his dream become a reality. He was stricken with appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
and died on May 30, 1925.
The Board, however, did live up to its promise and erected a fully accredited high school for Afro Americans on Tenth Avenue in 1930. The school was named William Henry Spencer High School his honor.