mss0587.xml Finding aid for the Iron Hill Museum oral history recordings and transcripts2003-2010 University of Delaware Library, Special Collections University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
Date encoded (2008 August 18) Finding aid encoded 2008 August 18 English Iron Hill Museum oral history recordings and transcripts2003-2010 Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library
Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 Phone: 302-831-2229 Fax: 302-831-6003 URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
 Delaware Academy of Science. Iron Hill Museum. Iron Hill Museum oral history recordings and transcripts2003-2010 MSS 587 58 audiocassettes and .6 linear ft. The Iron Hill Museum oral history collection consists of 37 interviews (recorded on 59 audio cassettes) documenting the history of the Iron Hill School #112C, which was one of the African American schools built in Delaware with funds provided by Pierre S. du Pont. Additional interviews in this collection document life in the Iron Hill community and nearby Pleasant Valley, as well as education provided in a few other Delaware schools in Hockessin, Milton, and Claymont. Materials entirely in English. University of Delaware Library - Special Collections Source

Gift of the Delaware Academy of Science. Iron Hill Museum, April 2008.

 Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

 Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi

 Citation

MSS 587, Iron Hill Museum oral history recordings and transcripts, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

 Shelving Summary Box 1: Shelved in SPEC Media audiocassettes Box 2: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes Materials Available in Alternative Format

Access to streaming MP4 files of the oral histories and PDFs of the transcripts is available by following the links in the finding aid below. These digitized files are housed in the University of Delaware Institutional Repository.

Typed transcripts are also available for recordings.

 Processing

Processed and encoded by Evan Echols, 2008; updated 2010.

 Historical Note

In 2003, oral historian Roberta Perkins and Laura Lee, director of the Iron Hill Museum, near Newark, Delaware, initiated a project to document the history of the Iron Hill School #112C, a former African American one-room schoolhouse from the days of segregated edcuation in Delaware.

The schoolhouse, in operation from 1923 until 1964, later became the Iron Hill Museum, operated by the Delaware Academy of Science. The building is one of 89 rural schools constructed through the philanthropy of Pierre S. du Pont for the community, and one of only a few that are still architecturally intact. A 2007 survey of the buildings by the Delaware State Historic Preservation office determined that 44 of the 89 schools are still standing, though many are in a state of disrepair or have been radically altered as homes or churches.

The Iron Hill School and others like it were constructed in an era of educational reform. In the early 1900s a federal survey of all schools ranked Delaware very low, with only those in the deep South ranking lower. Delaware’s response was to pass laws supporting improvements of the white schools, but the state reserved virtually no funds for the segregated black schools. Pierre S. du Pont, in a fashion similar to Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears who personally funded construction of 5,000 schools for Southern blacks, took it upon himself to improve the educational situation of African American students in Delaware. He embarked on a school funding project to either improve existing schools or construct new schools throughout the state. Du Pont also provided funding for white schools.

As director of the Iron Hill Museum, Laura Lee met many former alumni who would visit the museum and share their school memories. In order to preserve these stories, she enlisted the help of oral historian Roberta Perkins and transcriber Marcia Adams to establish an oral history project. (Marcia Adams conducted a few of the interviews, as well.) The oral history project received partial funding from the Delaware Academy of Science, Delaware Humanities Forum, and Delaware Heritage Commission. In addition, Rohm & Haas Community Partnership Initiative provided funding for a school outreach program featuring the oral history project.

 Scope and Content Note

The Iron Hill Museum oral history collection consists of 37 interviews (recorded on 59 audio cassettes) documenting the history of the Iron Hill School #112C, which was one of the African American schools built in Delaware with funds provided by Pierre S. du Pont. Additional interviews in this collection document life in the Iron Hill community and nearby Pleasant Valley, as well as education provided in a few other Delaware schools in Hockessin, Milton, and Claymont.

Between 2003 and 2010, Roberta Perkins, Laura Lee, and Marcia Adams interviewed Iron Hill School alumni, parents of former students, one teacher (Townsend, Delaware), and alumni of other du Pont schools in Hockessin and Milton. Perkins and Lee also interviewed alumni of the white Pleasant Valley School, which was located less than a mile from Iron Hill, and a Conowingo, Maryland, alumna. Other interviewees include long-time white residents of the Iron Hill area, one of whose father owned and operated Dayett Mill. The scope of the oral history project broadened to inlcude other small schools, mostly in New Castle County.

The interviews include but are not limited to discussions of community and school life, relationships between the schools, civil rights, transportation issues to and from school, employment, churches, and political vote-buying.

The content list in this finding aid provides limited descriptive information about the tapes, including name of interviewee, date of interview, number of tapes (60-minute tapes), name of the interviewer, and whether or not a transcript for the tapes exists. If not noted, transcripts are not yet available.

Digitization of audio cassettes and transcription is an ongoing project and links will be added to the collection as more material becomes available.

 Arrangement

The finding aid is listed in alphabetical order by name of interviewee. Tapes and transcripts are housed in order as received.

 Selected Search Terms Corporate Names Delaware Academy of Science. Iron Hill Museum. Topical Terms African Americans--Delaware--Education--20th century--Sources. Education--Newark (Del.)--20th century--Sources. Oral History--Newark (Del.)--20th century--Sources. Segregation in education--Delaware--20th century--Sources. Geographic Names Newark (Del.)--History--20th century--Sources. Delaware--Race relations--History--20th century--Sources.Iron Hill (Del.)--History--20th century--Sources.Hockessin (Del.)--History--20th century--Sources.Claymont (Del.)--History--20th century--Sources.Conowingo (Md.)--History--20th century--Sources. Form/Genre Terms Audiocassettes. Transcripts. Personal Contributors Lee, Laura, interviewer. Perkins, Roberta, interviewer. Adams, Marcia, interviewer. Related Materials in this Repository

MSS 179 Robert H. Richards, Jr. Delaware oral history collection

 Detailed Contents List Riva Brown2008 January 16

Discusses Claymont Stone School, a one-room school in Claymont, Delaware, interviewed by Roberta Perkins..

 1 T1 Audiocassette 1

Listen

 2 F1 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Elsie Earl Bullock 2004 September 14

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T2 Audiocassette 1

Listen

 1 T3 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F2 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Hermine Cleaver2007 March 5

A former student of Pleasant Valley School, a white school, interviewed by Marcia Adams.

 1 T4 Audiocassette 1

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 Herman Congo2007 March 13

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins. Bishop and pastor of St. Thomas AUMP Church in Newark, Delaware.

 1 T5 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T6 Audiocassette 2

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 Robert Congo, Jr.2007 March 23

Discusses the Iron Hill community, interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T7 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T8 Audiocassette 2

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 Charlotte Corday2007 March 14

A former student of Pleasant Valley School, a white school, interviewed by Marcia Adams.

 1 T9 Audiocassette 1

Listen

 2 F3 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Victor L. Doyle 2003 November 7

A former student of Pleasant Valley School, a white school, interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T10 Audiocassette 1

Listen

 2 F4 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Lena Satchell Todd Dyer and Alice Prestbury 2003 April 24

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C (Dyer) and a parent of a student (Prestbury) interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T11 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T12 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F5 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Lena Satchell Todd Dyer and Alice Prestbury 2005 April 15

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C (Dyer) and a parent of a student (Prestbury) interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T13 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T14 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F6 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Ronald Earl2008 July 23

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins. Relative of Shirley Smith Earl.

 1 T15 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T16 Audiocassette 2

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 Shirley Smith Earl 2008 February 21

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C (Dyer) and a parent of a student (Prestbury) interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T17 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F7 Transcript of interview

PDF

 David J. Grinnage2009 March 7

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins. One of the last students to attend the school and the brother of Gail Grinnage.

 1 T18 Audiocassette 1

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 Dorothy Earl Grinnage and Evelyn Earl Walley 2006 September 29

Two former students of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T19 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T20 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F8 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Gail Grinnage 2004 December 18

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T21 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T22 Audiocassette 2

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 1 T23 Audiocassette 3

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 2 F9 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Robert Grinnage 2003 April 22

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T24 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T25 Audiocassette 2

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 1 T26 Audiocassette 3

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 2 F10 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Robert Grinnage 2003 September 20

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T27 Audiocassette 1 2

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 F11 Transcript of interview Robert Grinnage2008 August 19

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T28 Audiocassette 1

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 Gloria Howard Hinson 2008 February 15

A former student of a Conowingo, Maryland, school interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T29 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F12 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Margaret D. Hoffman and Conrad E. Hoffman 2006 July 26

Long-time residents of the Iron Hill area interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T30 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T31 Audiocassette 2

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 Lois May Johnson 2007 April 11

A former student of Hockessin School #107C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T32 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T33 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F13 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Lois May Johnson 2008 January 17

A former student of Hockessin School #107C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T34 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F14 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Sandra Lewis Johnson 2006 June 8

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T35 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F15 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Raynor Johnson 2007 February 21

A long-time Iron Hill resident, his father ran Dayett Mill. Interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T36 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T37 Audiocassette 2

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 James Knott 2003 April 22 

A former student of Hockessin School #107C interviewed by Roberta Perkins and Laura Lee.

 1 T38 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T39 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F16 Transcript of interview

PDF

 James Lee2010 April 2

White resident of the Iron Hill area interviewed by Roberta Perkins. Discusses interactions with families in the area.

 1 T40 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T41 Audiocassette 2

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 Donald W. Lewis 2003 April 22

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins and Laura Lee.

 1 T42 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T43 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F17 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Edith Beatrice Miller Lewis 2006 June 8

A parent of a student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T44 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F18 Transcript of interview Richard Wayne Lewis, Sr. 2006 July 26

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T45 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T46 Audiocassette 2

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 Elsie Mills2007 March 16

A former student of Pleasant Valley School, a white school, interviewed by Marcia Adams.

 1 T47 Audiocassette 1

Listen

 Noble W. Prettyman 2007 February 7

A former student of a Milton, Delaware, school interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T48 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T49 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F19 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Reverend Allen Oliver Smith 2003 October 3

Street minister and former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T50 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T51 Audiocassette 2

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 1 T52 Audiocassette 3

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 2 F20 Transcript of interview

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 Reverend Allen Oliver Smith 2008 March 18

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T53 Audiocassette 1

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 Reverend Allen Oliver Smith 2009 February 6

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T54 Audiocassette 1

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 William Charles Smoot 2004 February 17

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T55 Audiocassette 1

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 1 T56 Audiocassette 2

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 2 F21 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Betty A. Webster 2008 March 12

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T57 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F22 Transcript of interview

PDF

 Margaret C. West 2005 June 18

A teacher at a Townsend, Delaware school interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T58 Audiocassette 1

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 Nora May Thompson Williams 2003 October 10

A former student of Iron Hill School #112C interviewed by Roberta Perkins.

 1 T59 Audiocassette 1

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 2 F23 Transcript of interview

PDF