Gregory Normal School
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Gregory Normal School was an American segregated high school in
Wilmington, North Carolina Wilmington is a port city in New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. With a population of 115,451 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, eighth-most populous city in the st ...
for African American students, that operated from 1868 to 1921. It was the first school admitting African American students in Wilmington after the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. It had been named the Wilmington Normal School, and the Gregory Normal Institute.


History

It was originally known as Wilmington Normal School when it was organized by a group of eight
Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
missionaries from
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who were sponsored by the
American Missionary Association The American Missionary Association (AMA) was a Protestant-based abolitionist group founded on in Albany, New York. The main purpose of the organization was abolition of slavery, education of African Americans, promotion of racial equality, and ...
. It was a high school-level school that sought to prepare its students for studying in colleges and universities elsewhere. It was renamed the Gregory Normal Institute in 1883 in honor of James J. H. Gregory of
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, who made a substantial donation to the school's operations. In 1921, the classes ceased at this site. The Gregory Congregational Church (now Gregory Congregational United) that stood next to the school is still active. A public elementary school located a few blocks away from the former site is named the Gregory School.


Alumni

* George Edward Davis, professor at
Biddle University Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) is a private historically black university in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS ...
and later supervisor of
Rosenwald School The Rosenwald School project built more than 5,000 schools, shops, and teacher homes in the United States primarily for the education of African-American children in the South during the early 20th century. The project was the product of the partn ...
building *
Addie Whiteman Dickerson Addie Whiteman Dickerson (1878–1940) was a businessperson, politician, clubwoman, suffragist, and peace activist. Biography Dickerson née Whiteman was born in 1878 in Wilmington, North Carolina. She attended the Gregory Normal School and S ...
(1878–1940), businessperson, politician, clubwoman, suffragist, and peace activist *
Caroline Sadgwar Manly Caroline may refer to: People * Caroline (singer) (born 1981), Japanese glitch pop musician * Caroline (given name), a feminine given name * J. C. Caroline (1933–2017), American football player * Jamie Caroline (born 1999), British racing drive ...
, one of the
Fisk Jubilee Singers The Fisk Jubilee Singers are an African-American a cappella ensemble, consisting of students at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee. The first group was organized in 1871 to tour and raise funds for college. Their early ...
, and wife of
Alexander Manly Alexander Lightfoot Manly (May 13, 1866 – October 5, 1944) was an American newspaper owner and editor who lived in Wilmington, North Carolina. With his brother, Frank G. Manly, as co-owner, he published the ''Daily Record (Wilmington), Daily Re ...
*
Bertha McNeill Bertha Clay McNeill (November 12, 1887 – September 21, 1979) was an American civil rights activist, peace activist, and educator. She grew up in North Carolina and earned a teaching certificate there before moving to Washington, D.C., where ...
(1887–1979), activist and educator


References


Additional sources


History of Education in North Carolina, p. 329


External links

{{Authority control 1868 establishments in North Carolina Historically segregated African-American schools in North Carolina Defunct schools in North Carolina Educational institutions established in 1868 Educational institutions disestablished in 1921 Schools in Wilmington, North Carolina Schools supported by the American Missionary Association