Document text
July 27, 1.939
Lary Wright Pill (Negro)
52t Yost Hancock avenue
athens, Georgia
'rincipel of Crammer :ohool
By adie B. Hornsby
FIi'CIi-L (I, GILkul Saaki, UARts
"Tao have u chair. They don't look ao comfortable, but they are. I'm proud
of thea even if they ere old und out of date. hy daughters want ma to sell thea,
but I don't intend to as long as I live beoauee they were sent to AO from Afeica
as a wedding gift. Bishop Harrison of Atlanta wee stationed there, and ae he ALL4
a good friend ef our family I sent him an invitation to my wedding. Those are
what -I got from him Aar a weeding gift. You'll have to excuue me a minute.
picked a gaLlon of figs from my omn bush this zerning and had jut put thaa OR
the stove to make preserves; they'll burn if I don't cut the electric current
fro a under them."
Uextba is of medium height and weight. Her curly blaft hair ia streaked
with gray and is out very short in the back, ahich cause it to bush out around
her face. aho wears glasses aud has piercing brown eyes. he was veering a
blue print dress buttoned doer the back, black slippers aad tan home. Her dress
was none toe clean, qnd the hose were spotted and soiled. I thought the large
aaudge of soot on her arm was a birthmark until she took the hem of her dress and
tried to wipe it off. The oontents of the room were very old but well arranged,
and the menerel appearance showed the use of a broom had long been neglected.
ale soon returned, saying to me, "1 will have to talk briefly because this
is ausband's busy day and I have to help him. He is an interior decorator
aad has a large order of shades to put pp at the 00 -ordinate college. I went
with him out to Antarvile last night to hand curtains he made for a lady. No,
mum, I don't know what he makes or we have never asked each other that auestion,
rincipel of Grammar ohool Thirty-three Years 2
because he has his profeesiun Jad I have mine. lie raakee a living .411 right and
pays he 1,7,e never been hithout ft day's work in his life. he works hard and eaves
some for rainy day.
I wasn't horned in tthens. I cams here to teach. My mother and father
wer .,(a-ni in Caernville, !;orth Carolina. fter they ;:arried they moved to "she
villa, and there ie where I wee uorn ou Lerch 6, 1681. ,cs- you can see, 1 om more
Indien teid .:*rench than Negro. My ,Tendsother WW1 4 Negro ne my grandfather was
ah Iudian. on my grandfather's side his suother was a Negxo and his father a
rrenohmen, ;hoc Atlanta '.as on a suiljing boat he Aeved his fumily there, where
ha (meld :Let plenty of work to do. he was a contractor for brick work. lie ,loade
plenty of money, bought a he thero, and educated the three oldest children.
There were six of we children, “11 educated from Atlanta University, hut one ,,ho
.s,..radvatel t.LTuskegee under Booker T.'aehiegton. ;ic took u Lhe a ,1,10 tr* de as my
father.
"Ly f.,ther died when I was oeven years of age. 7Jefore 1 anishao high echeol
..]ether oeeeme an invalid, 4nd hater° I finished .tiente University she loot her
eyesight. 4 desire .a te become a ;Jedleal doctor. ..ot havin! tunas .11d no one
to help me, I ohoze teachieg to help e.y mother and educate the younger cnildren.
My older brother and idiots e helped my nether and sent 46 to eollege, but I paid
moot af my cwn way workin at school while Iwen there.
"-fter Led to quit school 1 was given a place teachlug at Cxford, 9eorgia,
et the .cu wf thirteen. There were itl.o on people teaching under LW. was
pai=1 730 a onth. ;ith that amouut Ay living came out of it and the rtst sent
home to mother. ,ifter teaching at Oxford two years I accepted work in Athens.
taught school out here in a section called Brooklyn. I taught tat Brooklyn
ohool two yeare ranking ..;45:: a month. "t the end of that time I eue sleeted prin-
cipul of Lent Athens oohool, there an now serving -nd have been there thirty-
:riacipal of Grammar Liahool Thirty three 1Sars 3
throe years this past January.
nI was the first female colored woman to be elootod prinaipal in Atheas.
There was a woman appointed to fill au unexpired tera, but I was the first woman
elected to serve. I filled the vacancy of the principal, who asoepted a position
in Panama for $100, and ho only nada $40 hers.
"%hen I first took the place us principal it use just a four-roaR wooden
building with no mocks= ecomenienees. Tho toilets were just topsoil privies, and
we sot our drinking water from tolls. The enrollsent was around me hundred and
ninety ahildran for the five grades, and throw toolbars. The school has grown to
a ten -roam building, has isanisep, toilets, running water, electric lights, and a
telephone. The onrollment used to run as high as six hundred; now we have armed
four hundred and fifty pupils end eight teaabara. One reason our attendance have
decreased in that section, lots of the Negroes have moved North in order to find
work, as there are not enough work here for everybody, and people are not able to
pay a hi* price for colored help.
"I would like to tell you how managed to get running water in that school.
Not long after I took charge end began to drink that well water I began to feel
bad Elul didn't feel like doing *7 work as it should be don. No matter how hard
I talked to the city offioials they wouldn't do anything about it. took my
drinking *ate* from home and neon to work an the Slate board of Health about the
conditions of ths water in that section. They sent a represantativ• down to in
'satiate the matter. They asked me a million questions, of which they had a
pertoct rigbt to do. I sent a boy to the wall to gat a fresh bucket of water and
saw to it that tha bottle I put the sample in was thoroughly clean. They took it
and tent an book to Atlanta. In about a month I got a report an that water.
Headquarters said they didn't understand why there wasn't typhoid fever and other
contagious diseases over tore. Water was put in and not long after that the
?rincipel of Gramar ochool Thirty -these Years 6
"The school tia Baptist center. I had an awful time when I first went
over there. The first exercise was a perfect flop, as those people are au the
order of 2riaiitive Baptist. If the children had to skip or take a few steps
that looked like dancing their mothers would take 'en out. how they arts educated
to know all those thingelhe0 a child to have grace and poise, as well as to help
them overocme their timidity to perform before a crowd.
"Oh, lways have Beanies and there are plenty of meu end women who would
etoop to clo anything to get my job. The superintendent called me in his cWfice
one day. I couldn't imagine what he 'meted. He said, 'Martha, I want to talk
to you about your work, for you may have heard there are some of your race trying
to get your place, but I don't want you to worry about it, so lone as you are do-
ing as fine work as you are now. Two men Dame in my office the other day, and on.
of them said to me, understand you have an opening." "An opening for whet," I
asked 'Jell", I told hie, "I don't have an opening for a man and I Nowt hales
one for you soon.* I thanked the superintendent end left his office. That
shows you how people bill do you behind your beak.
"T started in at $40 a mouth, but I have made $135. We teaehers have been
cut so I am ashamed to tell anybody what make now. Aidas tram being the first
woman principal, I was the first Negro women to volunteer in this section to teach
the illiterate adults, to raise leorgia in the scale of illiteracy, because she
was way down. This school operated ten years and the board paid me $25 a month
for nine years. I save rty services free the first year. We had an enrollneut
of over one hundred Negroes who could neither read or writs. The classes were
held two nights a week, Tuesday and Thursdey, 'Pon eigkt until ten o'clock. The
whoa closed because the Board of lfteation did not have money enough to pay
the teachers.
"Also I have taught social service work for ten years. A representative
7rincipal of Grammar iJohool Thirty-three Timms 6
from ftlei,inton, D. C., came down to thank me for my -work. There was a contest
let on in three large cities end sato way Athens pulled strings and gat it for the
one mill tovn to wawa% Ath all the soheols here doing outstanding child health
deconctration work. lien I put on tat domosstration und wrote my thesis I had
a dream I would be the *inner. When I was notified I had wan the trophy, x
couldn't belisve sq ears. And the funniest thing about it the superintenaont of
our city achoola didn't want ma to take it home with me. His secretary said,
117hy, it dossn't belong to city. It was given by the lwants and the notary to
the individual winning it. be by rights it belongs to Uartha aud *a have no
right to keep it.' Very ruluotantly he preaentad the oup to me, saying, 'y*
should have aivie pride enough to put it on display where everycne see
told bin I surely had that and asked RISS of the jewelers to place it in their
display windows for 40. The jorwalsor did and insisted that I should let him polish
it for me, but I liked it dull beet.
"Were I came to Allowa to teach my mother called as to her, saying, 'Daughter,
there is something I wont you to do. You know my days are numbered, and after r
SU gems there will be nobody to educate myymmagor children but you, so just as
soon as you find a good man I wont you to merry and zake a hone for yourself end
the children, acid educate than.' 'But, mama,' I said, 'why don't you tell rora
that. :3be is older than I and, too, I went to study and become a medical dot:4er.,
She plead with no tad finally I told her I would. Soya after I Game here to
teoeh I met ay first husband. lin decided to marry. I had said I was going to
havo a church wedding and it took AS two years to buy my clothes, is I had to
send a certain part of my salary to my mother, as my sister was at Atlanta Uni-
versity and my brother was attending Tusked**.
'"gy willing dress and veil wee beautiful and I paid a modiste who was well
known in Atlanta $12.50 to make wedding soma. I paid for story detail myself
Principal of Grammar school Thirty-three Years
connected with the wedding amp, my bouquet, the Alum 001, Oki trideanalds. end
boutoeniere for the groommase. We Isere aerried on Christmas Day. One year tram
that day ay oldest child was berm, and eigAteen months later soother little girl
came. She was born on the Fourth of 7017. Z just have the two girls. WI oldest
girl was four and a half years old when /ay husband died.
owe had just bought this home end he had jum$ made ome payment. I vas deter-
mined sot to lose it, and r set out to work harder than ever. I hemp taught all
day sad nursed at nisht. In the summer closed /ay house, peld one of my sisters
to keep my girls, mod nursed the summer throngh. The girls went to the same school
where am prinsipal. After they finished grammar school, they went to high school.
After finishing there I sent my oldest girl to Fisk University,and the other one
finished Atlanta University. My oldest daughter got her Alegre. at Fisk University
majoring in history. After she left flak she tausht in Springfield College in
Sprinefleld, Massachusetts. Mir most outstanding work was done as Imola worker at
that ecalege. She was selected ane of the two colored girls in Berries to travel
in urope with a group of white students to study students in other countries. She
visited Italy, Oernmny, Austria, Magary, Ames, Switverland, and Ragland. rhile
in Xmaimmd a lady took a tansy to her and presented her with a lovely ring. It
surely mode the other students jealous. Mow you need not mention this, for if you
do. the Negroes will say if they kmew r told you, 'Old lady Martin is bragging'.
Negroes are just like.smspies, always jabbering about what people are proud of. You
bet r an, far I worked hard for my thildrea and they have done well.
°The rivet time my dmaghter was offend that trip to Murope she couldn't &wept
it as we didn't have the mousy, tut she told them she would be read); the next time
that trip vas arDnied to her. That trip east us two thousand dollars. The head
of the social work La Mee York seat a representative down to see if Viola had every-
thing she needed. She vent all through her sloths., abashed her linens and the
Prinzipal et* °rammer echuol Thirty-three Tiers 8
only thing she didn't here was lel air cushion to it on ehile trareline in 7uropo.
You knoe ell the traies have eeoden seets. I ceuldn't find ape in etheta. ola
wane to tlente for t. und te for the:cushion. 11,J011 &c: returned from .broad
she told ne that 4S wee well kipant.
ITt-t sooiaa oa'r told Iile ahe was here, he had no idea Negroes in.
the euth knee what sueh eavironement was or that they he.. such nice homes.
took her back to the hotel in our ear. Tbi‘n't misunderstand me, I um southern
Nero-ed knoe my place Therefeee we treated her aft rf knew !Ind 'mere taught to
act arouni white people. -Iten she invited is to her room to have toe we refused,
knowine the excitement it %tell-, ereete following a ehite wemaa in a hotel to have
tea.
ether dmeehter didn't np-ly herself, 30 she didn't eh as well as the one
hove just told yea& about. 5.1he eot a job in New Tbrk as social worker. She met
and ;married a nusicien. Ilenette mede aped maw, so her husband SATO Up his orches-
tra end eat down an her to pport him. She had to stop viork After her second child
cene. She lost her lob end couldn't find work. After divorcing her husband, idle
oe
got a job with the vrA as social eorker end uow ic getting/all right.
eriole married an tlanto ean. She has n little eirl of her ern ,,Ine don't work
any
I often tell her she ought to do somethine after ell the eerie!" :ere end I
hive spent on her education. However, 7 em prow d cf the unn she earrled end hope
they will make a lo of it. I gave both of my girls church wecetege, eee as I have
tol you about my race, ytel have neater herd of such a to -de as they did eake over
I heard
the eirls, church wee:dings, and every one/that had epertaing ugly to Bey about it
we excluded them fright moue our ierited guests.
"I stayed single fourteen years before I nerried egnin, because didn't want
any other on having a say -se over my children. 'hen I did maeey after the girls
were Riven erid out on their own, the man was an oreAgrown, spoiled man. his people
had money, elti he thought because I had a nice hams and a good job be would let ma
7,rinolpal of Orammir School Thirty-three Tears
take care of his. I gave him all the °hones in the world to get out and hunt work,
still he wouldn't do it. So one day I acid to him, 'Look here, haven't you found
any work yet?' After I learned he Ladn't tried, I told him it wee time to got
going. He thought I didn't mean it at first. When I let him know I meant what
I said, he went back to his mother. About a month later she brought him back to
ma 6nd begged ms to take him back. I asked him if he had a job, and he told me
he thought so. 'Well,' I told him, 'you didn't brine anything with you but your
oaf and a fee °laths in a trunk, and you haven't bought one thing since you have
been here. Now get your belongings and get stle for good. This time I mean for
you to stay out.'
*About throe years ago I married my present husband, after I had got my
divorce from my second husband.. fis is a good man nnd hard working. Imo work to-
gether and say* pup money so when we got too old to work we will have something
to live on. HO is getting old. He will be sixty-nine his next birthday and I do
all oan to help him. drive him where he has to go in my oar. That sales his
lots cf steps. He is good to me and I try to be to him.
"He owns his own property but has it rented out. I didn't want to live in
his house, so he stored his furniture and I munch happier whore I hat* always
lived. Many are the nights I have stayed awake crying when ay children were aslesP.
wondering what I mould do next and bow to mast my bilis, but I alwoys found a way.
NOW I don't owe any money, and I rent another house I have built on the beak of my
lot. This was a large lot end I have often *QUIP about that wasted space. So
when I got this one paid for I bought lumber and had a nice four -roan house built,
and rent from it paid Sor the lumber. This hawks I live in has ten roams. Cane
an and let as show it to you. I en proud of it because it represents many a hard
day's work and worry."
followed her into a bedroon. She continued to talk. *you can see how old
Principal of Grammar School Thirty-three Years 10
my furniture is. Why, every piece in this room is at limit thirty piers old. You
will have to excuse the dirt and dust, as we just oame back Meadey fres a visit to
my busband's daughters in Ohio." Sbe laughed and said, "They vomited to see what
their new step -mother looked like, so they seat us the money to go an. After
visiting them for two weeks, we went to see my people in Chicago, than an to NOW
York to visit my daughter. While there we took in the World's Mr.
*come in bor. I oall this small room a den. I fixed this up for MI husband
so when his customers cone he can work out their plans without being bothered.*
In this room was a studio couch with many bright cushions on it, Morris chair, desk,
bookcase, a table with an electric lamp cm it. On the floor was a gay -colored wool
rue, v;hile at the short windows were pink *arta curtains and red drowse. she
plokee up a cmall notebook from the erm of the Morris chute, saying, *Well, bless
ny time, here is the book my husband has been looking for ever 111140 he came book
from our trip. This book he keeps his orders in anA the style of curtains and
draperies he draws for the eustemers. MO will be lest without it, as he has am-
oral orders to fill rieht away. Now, some, let as show you the kitchen. You see
I have all modern equipment as we are not able to hire our work dome. Our electric
stove ord roe:rimester are a perfect joy.
*AO you can see, all the furniture in my diningroos is reel old. Look at that
fruit basket of rresden china. Arenit theme colors delicate and pretty? /n this
shins cabinet have several very old pieces of bend -painted shine. I mint you to
look at that tureen an the buffet. I never saw one like it befog, and I have never
used it for fear of breaking it. The lamp as my dining table was a gift from a
yams man in California, in appreciation for what I did for his mother. I took My
daughters out to Loa Angelis on a visit to same school friends of mime. while I
was there the 'Kamm next door was taken vtolmetly ill. We ran avec to ma what we
eould de for her. I administered first aid until the doctor arrived to keep her
Priaelpal of Grammar Sehool Thirty-three Tears 11
alive. vhen he arrived we both worked like wildfire to save her, but nothing revived
her. She died three hours later with her -head on sT a.
"our time was up for us to leave to visit other places in that state. Before
leaving I did all I could about the funeral arronimments before her only child could
eet there from Denver. After visiting several cities, we arrived home. Itres weeks
later I found a bees box at 117 front door, and when I unpacked it this is what I
found. This bust of an Indian VOWS I bombe while in Chisaap. my girls laughed
at no, but didn't care. The only interest I bad in it is because ay mother was
the image of that bust in her last days. I told you in the beginning I mean
Indian and Trench than Negro. Ws ars descendants of the Cherokee Indians, and wy
mother was only arm-sighth Negro. The earner of the bust got brohee eons way, but
I wouldn't take the world for it.
want you to see the room I pride MVO than any of the others in the holm,
because every piece of the furniture in my living mama a wedding aft tiros tog
first husband, end other odds and ends are frau close Meads. A furniture store
here offered no 4,15 for this suits, but I told him that was my prise for the chairs
anly. Of course, the radio, 'demo, and that end table ND' trophy sits on are modern.
but I have had them at least tweet, years. Do you see those two large pictures of
child subjects an the wall? On. of wy daughters told me they were so old-faehlosed
and catt-of-data why didn't I take them to the back room. I told her they suited me
and I meant to keep thmsldbere I could see them as left as I lived, for they wsPrs-
seated the first mammy I ever made when I was sight years old. kept a colored
wemaa's children for her while she walked out tor white people. She polders 41.50
a week. owe a 41 of it to ay mother and put 50O of it en the pictures. They
cost 42.00 each, and I paid on than each seek until I finished paring for them.
"No. Mall, I never worked for white people. Therefore, I missed ay only abeam,
Principal of Grammar School Thirty-three Tears 12
of ever going to gurope. There was a wary wealthy white man in Atlanta Whose
daughter married. He begged as to go with her as her maid to Europe, as he wanted
an educated person who was old sacs* to advise her. Not having worked for white
people, I was afraid I wouldn't fill my plaea efficiently at that age, so they sent
to washington end got a said who was educated and had acne knowledge of nursing.
name in the hall. I want to show you a picture of ay =Mier that was taken
after she went blind. T paid a photographer $25 to make that picture for 44. One
of ay white friends who was a teacher the is dead now had a larger Picture of
the Madonna to fall from the well in her MU, and the corer was broken off the
frame, and there were large dirty places on the canvas. The school wanted to have
it repRired for her, but she toll them, 'No, give it to Martha for her school. :;be
will know just What to do with it.' I took acme brown wd4 craven, went over tho
foiled plf,tose, and put each tiny piece of that broken frame baek in place. /t is
11011 in My assembly roast and you can't even tellwhora the damaged part was. Every
one of my friends know how T love picture. That is why nut lady gave mo her broken
picture
"I wen, to show you upstairs. limn the girls began totlet large enough to have
a room of their own, T had the roof of the house mixed and added three hedrooma,
bath, Rad sleeping Pessn. It in
the girls come home on a visit.
home. This front room in Viola's
awfully hot up here. I don't use it now only Alen
After I vont to Fal this expanse, my girls left
If you notice I have furnished talc, roam in the
color suited to her name in curtains at the window, scarves and bedspread, and
scatter rugs. You can see the furniture is cheap, but good enough for us.
*This is Itir Youngest daughter's roam. It is done in pink. rho isn't as fixy
44 viola, fad anything did for her was all right, so that's why the had an iron
bed and the other bed la wooden. Both roans are just like they left them. This
large roam Isn't as nice, so when they had company the girls slept in here with as,
rrincipal of Orammar School Thirty-three Years 13
AS you oan see the furniture in this room are odds *ad aid* of very old rucalture.
"The coolest roan up here is the sleeping porch". I followed her down the
steps, through a curtain, and uttered a smell hall. The door in front of me opened
into the bath ZOOK. Uartha said, "I had this old wardrobe fitted in this space of
the hall to hold ay linens." She opened the double doom and every shelf was
filled with various household lineas, put on the shelves at random. "This is the
sletping porch," she said, openia6 the door that leads into the room. There sine
a white iron bwa with a candlewick spread on it, large dark oak dresser, 4nd table with
with a reeding law on it. liarthe onto, "1 en ashamed for you to use this roan,
everything eo torn up. Clothac evaxywhere, but Idic want you tu scu this old
dock. Ay first husband Whs a harbor and was employa d by a Carmion, who wtet ha went
out ch. huniuusa gave it to my husband at. gift of evprociation for his f,Litlaul
work. nie 4eought it to America from Gertueny .Lon he cams over.
"Let's go downstairs. I want to show you the Loldrish pool. I wide it uyselr
with the help of a yowl*, boy I keit; 500." 4hun ic roaohet, the porch, he sal(,
"Colas this way to the torraze. Hero is ay pool. 71.6 water lilies haveaft done so
well '„Lis yenr. On real hot nii:hts I cosy out here and oit ii4 that portlaa. I
am prouo ol my house because I bought and paid' for it myself, which represents
sevarol thousand ocllars. I get 410 a uonth :or the one you act' back of ay house.
Lots or Negroes iiU pend everything they sake on their back, things to eat, rad
a ear, hut I try to even mine up, and I dicin't buy ay Todge until I fiat I could
afford it.
"hon ay children were small, up the street nearer town, nothing but Yews lived
along there. They uswd to toll ae, gierthh, ycur ehildrun aro goirg to he bowlegged,
you walk tbmn so fur buck ,,n4 forth to school. u:hy don't yrn tk. ft streetcar"
'Because I oat't afford it.' I would tall them. 'hat V.)4 r. day would by food for
us.' They stayed well, for I leaned in ay °nurse the proper rood to give thin and
rrinoipal of Crammer School Thirty-three Years 14
how to prepare it. Therefore, I ave been fortunate when it gene to doctor bi ls.
"I contribute ny success to hart!, work, saving, and praying. I joined the
Church when I was eleven /este, of age and ma o. =ober of the First Congregational
Church of Atlanta, aeorgia, end promised the tonl if he would help ISA I would
live a good ChristLin life ane teaah others the way they should live. Then my
children ogee and were old enough to understaed Ietd my best to instill in tham
the way they should live. They have never disappointed me, and as a whole Ima
very proud of my family, for ad far as 1 have been able to learn, generation beak,
all Jv., lieoplq have been good Christian Men and mean.
"Yee, Ram INOW to teach as long an the Board of gdueation will let ne. I
put ell there is in me in my work. Mho, a teacher goes to school end teaches enough
to at by on. That isn't the way I do. While I en not teaching I ma thinking of
the children next fall, planning my work, things that are best for the children.
So may children go to school without a scrap of paper or a pencil. During the
summer gave every pbooe of pew that is useable and every ponell I find. Lots
of times I find one an the street, and I pick it up even ii they are not more than
one or two inehes long. How next fall when 'wheel opens, when a child don't have
/email or paper, there will be plenty for those who used it.“
her husband esee to the door and eallied his wife. "Baby, I an ready to go
hang those shades now. Miss, if you hoer of anybody who want. interior decorating
done, I would appreciate it if you would tell than about me."
After thankiag aartha for the story and telling her huabend I would keep his
work in mind, I left them scurrying toeard the oar with an arnfUl of shades.