Interview with Janet Gamble and Delores Crowder. 1 [electronic resource] 2004 January 12 / interviewer: Christina Wright ; transcriber: Jason Luker.

ArchivalResource

Gamble, Janet (Janet Spears), 1940-. Interview with Janet Gamble and Delores Crowder. 1 [electronic resource] 2004 January 12 / interviewer: Christina Wright ; transcriber: Jason Luker.

Interview with Janet Gamble and Delores Crowder. 1 [electronic resource] 2004 January 12 / interviewer: Christina Wright ; transcriber: Jason Luker.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/646812630

This combined interview with Mrs. Gamble and Mrs. Crowder gives us an overview of a Rosenwald school in the Derita area of Mecklenburg County, N.C. in the late 1940s and 1950s. Mrs. Crowder attended Rockwell Rosenwald until it closed in 1957. They give a description of the actual three room school building, complete with a potbelly stove in each room, blackboards, children's art work on the walls, and old wooden chairs with an attached work surface and shelf on the bottom. There was no library or indoor toilet facilities. Although it had been many years ago, both remembered many aspects of student life. There were few books and they had been used in the city's white schools. The days started with the Lord's Prayer, singing a patriotic song, and saying the Pledge of Allegiance before their daily studying reading, writing, and arithmetic. Lunches were brief and everyone carried their own from home. Students could buy milk and juice. Discipline consisted of the strap, ruler, a paddle, although they rarely needed to be used. Afternoon recess was spent outside playing ball, jumping rope, etc. Students were responsible for keeping the stoves supplied with coal or wood. Homework was given every day. Both Mrs. Crowder and Mrs. Gamble remembered special events and celebrations such as the Christmas program, May Day, and the Red Cross drive.

University of North Carolina, Charlotte, J. Murrey Atkins Library