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Liberty High School

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

In 1923 DuBois High School was founded in Williamson, WV. The name was changed to Liberty High School in 1928 because there was already a DuBois High School in Mt. Hope, WV. Liberty High School was abruptly closed in 1966.

Images

  • Liberty High School late 1920s-early 1930s. Courtesy of www.williamsonwestvirginia.us
  • Williamson High School as of 2010. This school serves the county ever since smaller schools like Liberty meshed with Williamson following desegregation.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Founded in 1923, Liberty High School, located in Williamson, West Virginia was originally called DuBois High School.  The named changed however in 1928 because there was already a “DuBois High School” located in Mt. Hope, West Virginia.  The school was founded during a time when there was a surge of black schools being established across the state.  The school was built on Vinson Street and became the core of the African-Americans living in Williamson.  Liberty High School excelled in both academics and athletics.  Homecomings and weekly socials were held at the school allowing the community to come together and providing a comfortable setting for children to socialize.  The closing of Liberty High School in 1966 was abrupt and unexpected.  When Liberty High School closed, it marked the completion of integration in Mingo County. The school merged with modern-day Williamson High School.

Sources

Price, John. "PURSUING ‘LIBERTY:’ THE STRUGGLE FOR INTEGRATION IN MINGO COUNTY SCHOOLS." The Carter Woodson Project | Marshall University - Huntington, WV. Web. 29 Apr. 2015. <http://www.marshall.edu/carterwoodson/john_price.asp>. Byers, R. Charles, Bryson Cyrus, Florette Walton, Jhaun Jasper, Irene Ivy, and Emma Nelson. "Honoring Our Past." Black High Schools in West Virginia (1988). Marshall University Special Collections.

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