Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History & Culture Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva's Black History

Record Detail

Record #109 from Freedmen's Bureau Correspondence on Schools, 1869-1870

Roll Number 7
Date 21 Nov 1868
State Maryland
County Worcester
City/Town/Neighborhood Berlin
Other Locations Mentioned
Authors Anna R. Groce
Position
Recipient Superintendent of Colored Schools
Other Names Mentioned John H. Butler
Message Abstract States that the school at this place was opened on the 20th of October; that the people have raised upwards of $75 to purchase lot for school house, and hope to obtain material from the Bureau as promised by [[underlined]] J. H. Butler [[/underlined]], but have not agreed as to location. Encloses school report for October.
Message Body This school was opened on the 20th of October and is to be sustained by the voluntary contributions of the people of color of the vicinity as per agreement made with John H. Butler, Who was here on the 19th of Oct. There has been a division among the people as to the building of a school house, one party wishing to place it in the church yard. nearly a mile from the depot, the other party wishing it placed nearer to the village. Upwards of Seventy Five dollars having been collected to purchase the ground and obtain if possible the material from you to build it with. Mr Butler having told that we could obtain it provided we secured by deed the ground, Mr Groce formerly teacher here has copies of the deed and is stirring to carry out that object. This has kept many from attending school but I hope to make a fuller and more extended report next month. There is a vast amount of ignorance and [[strikethrough]] Supper [/strikethrough]] Superstition among the Freedmen here. And it is to be hoped that some person friendly to the Education of the Freedmen visit this place as the people do not take to it as readily as we would wish though they seem now desirous to support their School to the extent of their means. This section is by no means progressive with regard to Improvements or Agriculture being conservative to a superlative degree.
Pages 119
Transcribers Notes

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[Author (if known)], Freedmen's Bureau Correspondence on Schools, 1869-1870, 1868, Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.

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