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Founded in 1907, the Jeanes Foundation was created to help improve education in southern Black rural schools. The foundation would go on to fund Black supervising educators, liaisons between the Black schools and county school administrators. These supervisors, known as Jeanes Teachers, were expected to adapt their efforts to the needs of the communities they served. They encouraged different classes and clubs, promoted health care and high standards of living in their communities. 

Ten years later, the Julius Rosenwald Fund was established to assist rural communities in the construction and improvements of rural school buildings for Black Southerners. After the fund’s establishment, Jeanes Teachers became directly involved in the construction of Rosenwald Schools in their communities. Their dedication and organization helped uplift education in Black rural communities across the south. 

Please join us as Maury County historian, Jo Ann Williams McClellan, discusses the lesser known history of the Jeanes Teachers and their many contributions to African American communities in the south. McClellan is the founder of the African American Heritage Society of Maury County and is involved with the Genealogical Society of Maury County, the Maury County Historical Society, and the Columbia Arts Council. She has completed extensive research on Black cemeteries in the county, publishing “Gone But Not Forgotten: African American Cemeteries and 1908-1930 Death Records” in 2009.

RSVP & Order Lunch

Boxed lunches made by Apple Spice Nashville are available for purchase to enjoy during the event. Lunch orders must be placed by noon on Tuesday, March 21st. Please order your boxed lunch on the ticket registration page.

This Lunch and Learn event is in-person in the Museum’s Digital Learning Center at 12:00. No RSVPs are required to attend this free event. It will also be livestreamed on the Museum’s website at TNMuseum.org/Videos. If you have any questions please email Public.Programs@tn.gov.