Welcome to the Edwin Washington Project
NOTE: WE ANTICIPATE A MAJOR UPGRADE TO OUR WEBSITE IN EARLY 2018.
In June, 1867, a “colored” 16 year old boy named Edwin Washington worked in a hotel in Leesburg, Virginia for five dollars a month, plus board, with the “privilege of coming to school” in between errands. Unfortunately, this meant he couldn’t attend school on a regular basis, or at all during court weeks. Still, he went to class whenever he could.
This research project is a monument to Edwin and all of the African-American children and their parents, educators and patrons of that time and through to the end of segregation in Loudoun County in order to honor their bravery and tenacity to learn. The project is done in collaboration with the Records Office of the Loudoun County Public Schools, local history clubs, private and government archives and the Black History Committee of the Friends of the Balch Library.
Who Are We? Why did this start? Curriculum
Learn about the History
Find out about the issues and values at play during the pre-integration period in Loudoun County.
Explore the Schools
Learn about the students, teachers and school buildings that made up the pre-integration school system in Loudoun County.
Documenting Segregated Schools of Loudoun County 