“Black Education and Polk County: Julius Rosenwald Schools”
by Dean Moss McCracken (local historian and researcher)
Over 5000 schools, shops and teachers homes were built in the United States primarily for the education of African-American students in the rural south between 1912-1932. Julius Rosenwald (CEO Sears-Roebuck) teamed with Booker T. Washington (American educator and Presidential advisor) to promote philanthropic and community based funding to build much these needed schools. The result of this collaboration provided buildings and programs for education to those is greatest need. Polk County was home to five schools funded with Rosenwald Funds.
