Honorable Soldiers, Too: An Historical Case Study of Post-Reconstruction African American Female Teachers of the Upper Ohio River Valley A dissertation presented to the faculty of the College of Education of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Carole Wylie Hancock March 2008 2 © 2008 Carole Wylie Hancock All Rights Reserved 3 This dissertation titled Honorable Soldiers, Too: An Historical Case Study of Post-Reconstruction African American Female Teachers of the Upper Ohio River Valley by CAROLE WYLIE HANCOCK has been approved for the Department of Educational Studies and the College of Education by David F. Bower Assistant Professor of Teacher Education Renée A. Middleton Dean, College of Education 4 ABSTRACT HANCOCK, CAROLE WYLIE, Ph.D., March 2008, Curriculum and Instruction Honorable Soldiers, Too: An Historical Case Study of Post-Reconstruction African American Female Teachers of the Upper Ohio River Valley (455 pp.) Director of Dissertation: David F. Bower This exploratory and descriptive study illuminates the lives of African American female teachers who lived in the upper Ohio River Valley between 1875 and 1915. Existing current research depicts teachers in the South and urban North during this period. This study highlights teachers from northern, small to midsized cities in order to bring them into the historical record and direct attention to their contributions to education. The focus of this historical, intrinsic, embedded, single-case case study was on the social profile, educational opportunities, teaching experiences, and support networks of Pocahontas Simmons Peyton, Susie Simmons (Jones?), Bernadine Peyton Sherman, Mary Peyton Dyson, Anna Stevens Posey, and Elizabeth Jennie Adams Carter. Three additional themes emerged from the data. They involved inconsistent community attitudes, male-defined perspectives, and multigenerational connections and successes. The case for this study was bounded by time, place, race, gender, and occupation. The units of analysis were selected from a pool of 27 names using the maximum- variation purposeful sampling method. The central research question asked how the women operated within the educational systems of the three-state area of western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and southeastern Ohio. The researcher employed 5 multiple methods of data collection in order to triangulate the data and provide rich description of the women within the context of the bounded system. The findings suggest that these women were part of a tradition of exemplary service to education. Although they were unique, these women shared characteristics with teachers in other areas of the country. With one exception, they worked in segregated schools with poor to adequate resources. Each woman had a range of educational options open to her, but not all options were available in each location. The women were skilled at using support networks and their own abilities to navigate within the educational system. They became role models and pioneers who made significant contributions to the educational landscape of the area. Knowledge of these women increases our understanding of the roles African American women have played in schools and gives them overdue recognition for fighting for an honorable cause. Approved: _____________________________________________________________ David F. Bower Assistant Professor of Teacher Education 6 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The long and eventful journey that I have taken to reach this point requires taking considerable time and space to thank all those who have helped along the way. By its very nature, this type of research project inevitably requires the assistance of many people. I am grateful for the support and effort of all of the following: The Ohio University faculty and staff who have been a part of my adventure. My advisers, the late Dr. Edward Stevens, Dr. Keith Whitescarver, now at The College of William and Mary, Dr. Adah Ward Randolph, and Dr. David Bower provided expert guidance along the way. Committee member Dr. Rosalie Romano was always ready with great advice and a smile when I came to call. Very special thanks go to Dr. Jaylynne Hutchinson, whose timely concern made it possible for me to reach this goal. Katelyn Burkhart deserves recognition for her attempts to publicize my research. Ramona Mott was a wonderful addition to the Office of Student Services and a great help with the forms and paperwork! Angela McCutcheon was always ready with answers to questions and made the electronic filing process manageable. Washington State Community College and my friends, colleagues, and students there. I am grateful to the college for its financial support of my coursework. Immediate past president Dr. Carson K. Miller and current president Dr. Charlotte R. Hatfield both provided support and encouragement. To my dean, Dr. Mark Nutter, who started this adventure with me, and supported me through the extra years it took me to finish, I can only say, I could not ask for a better boss! Department chairs Dr. Ralph Carbone and Debbie Wright, who took over so I could have more time to work on my 7 research, deserve an extra big, thank you. I cannot list all the wonderful colleagues from the faculty and staff to whom I am indebted, but a few have to be named: Rick Peoples who ably manages the finances; Dr. Deborah Thomas who willingly shared her expertise and wisdom; Dr. Tom Steckel, Dr. Dean Hirschi, David Edwards, J. Daniel McMannis, Dr. Larry Robinson, and Amy Peckens who provided motivation and encouragement; Carl-Michal Krawczyk and Brad Merritt, who shared their books and knowledge of history; Tom Dent, who used his detective skills to help me find descendants; and Dustin Taylor, whose efficiency and technical skills astound me. Heartfelt thanks also go out to trustee, John Greacen, who does so much for WSCC and who has taken such an active interest in my work. The entire staff of the Carson K. Miller Library has been crucial to my success. Georgene Johnson and her staff have found books, obituaries, articles, and statistics that have added to the richness of this work. In addition, Lura Wilcoxen, Norma Hanna, Linda Tilton, Judith Thompson-Verdi, and Lindsay McVey, my new research assistant, provided technical assistance and allowed me to invade their space so I could have a quiet place to work. Thanks to all! My Marietta College family. I cannot possibly enumerate all the individuals associated with MC who have supported me over the past 37 years, but several individuals should be singled out. Drs. Mabry and James H. O’Donnell III have believed in me since I arrived on campus in the fall of 1971. Their faith in me is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Dr. Jim O’Donnell for being willing to serve on my committee as well. The memory of late coach, Don Schaly, continues to inspire perseverance and demanding the best of myself. The support and concern expressed over the years by 8 Lester and Eloise Anderson and all the members of the Physics Department faculty and staff are greatly appreciated. Dr. Eric Fitch shared his knowledge of the Ohio River and helped me try to find a suitable map of the area. Dr. David McShaffrey’s technical assistance was also most helpful. Delta Kappa Gamma. To my local sisters who have offered wisdom and encouragement, I thank you. To the state organization, particularly Beth Archer and Diana Kirkpatrick, who alerted me to the opportunities, I cannot thank you enough for the monetary awards that have financed my last two years of research. Those who helped with research. The Ohio University Alden Library staff and archivists, including Doug McCabe, helped me find my first pieces of primary source material. What a thrill! Henry Burke and his network of friends and relatives suggested subjects to investigate and sent me data. One of the most helpful was Robert Lett, a descendant in Anna Stevens’ family tree. Ada Woodson Adams, president of the Multicultural Genealogical Center in Chesterhill, Ohio, helped me get started on the research trail; her help was timely and appreciated. Joanne Prisley, curator at the Athens Historical Society and Museum was also helpful. Fran Davis, Sumner graduate and Project Director at the Sumnerite African–American History Museum and Multipurpose Center, opened the museum and shared her memories with me. Ernest Thode and Eric Richendollar of the Local History and Genealogical Department at the Washington County Public Library in Marietta, Ohio guided me through census data, found materials, and shared many tricks of the trade for locating people and their descendants. Archivists Kevlin C. Haire and Tamar Chute from The Ohio State University replied to my inquiry 9 kindly and quickly. Sharon Buzzard of the Office of the Superintendent of the Wood County, West Virginia, Board of Education graciously opened the board’s records and copied many of them for me. The California University of Pennsylvania library staff of Professor William T. Denny, Professor Albert Pokol, and recently-retired archivist Betty Shaw were timely in their responses to my inquiries and helpful in locating information about Jennie. Vice President of University Advancement, June Dowdy, gave me some of her valuable time at a very busy time in the life of the university. Special thanks go to LaMont Coleman, Assistant Dean for Student Development, who loaned me his copy of the school’s history and went out of his way to make sure I had the information I wanted. Appreciation goes out to all the great librarians, archivists, and historians in southwestern Pennsylvania, including Nancy Stoicovy of the Monongahela Area Library, Victoria Leonelli of the Uniontown Public Library, Glenn Tunney of Brownsville, Lisa Lazar of the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, Albert Manns of the Mifflin Township Historical Society, and Tyrone Ward of the Carnegie Library of Homestead. Additional thanks go to Dr. Frederick J. Augustyn, Jr.