Jefferson School Foundation
Discover the enduring impact of the Jefferson School Foundation, established to preserve and sustain the Jefferson School City Center. From its origins in 1865 to its present role in fostering inclusivity, education, and community engagement, the Foundation ensures that this cultural hub continues to thrive for future generations.
Our Mission
The Jefferson School Foundation is dedicated to preserving and sustaining the history of The Jefferson School. We strive to enhance the quality of life by supporting and advancing the Jefferson School City Center as a vibrant community resource and hub for diverse services and programs. Through strategic stewardship and community engagement, the Jefferson School City Center serves as a vital asset in our community.
Our Vision
Our vision for the Jefferson School City Center is to flourish as a cornerstone of community vitality, fostering a dynamic environment where individuals and organizations come together to learn, grow, and thrive.
Values
✔ Preservation: We are committed to honoring and maintaining the historical and cultural significance of the Jefferson School while adapting to future needs.
✔ Community Focus: We prioritize the needs and aspirations of our community, striving to provide services and programs that are vital and accessible.
✔ Collaboration: We believe in the strength of partnerships and teamwork, working with local organizations, stakeholders, and residents to advance our collective efforts.
✔ Innovation: We embrace creativity and forward-thinking approaches to ensure that programs and services remain effective and responsive to evolving community needs.
✔ Integrity: We uphold transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in all our activities and interactions.
✔ Sustainability: We are dedicated to ensuring the long-term viability of the Jefferson School City Center through responsible management and sustainable practices.
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Historic Preservation
We safeguard the rich legacy of Jefferson School, a post-Civil War landmark. Through preservation efforts, we ensure this historic center remains a cultural beacon for generations. Join us in preserving history.
Who We Are
The Jefferson School Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, owns and and operates the Jefferson School City Center—a vibrant community center located in the historic landmark Jefferson School (1865). The Jefferson School Foundation opened in 2012 and celebrated the 150th anniversary of the original Jefferson School in 2015.
Resource: The Reflector, An African-American newspaper depicting African-American Life in Charlottesville, VA, during the Jim Crow Era.
The Early History
At the end of the Civil War, the New England Freedmen’s Aid Society sent a teacher, Anna Gardner, to Charlottesville to open a school for former slaves. She named the school “Jefferson School” after the nation’s third president, Thomas Jefferson, whom she admired. In 1865, the first Jefferson School was a one-room school in the Delevan Hotel on West Main Street that had served as a hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers.
In 1869, the school grew to three grades and moved to a building near the Charlottesville train station. And, in 1894, land at the corner of Fourth and Commerce Streets (now part of the school’s current parking lot) was transferred to the city for the construction of the Jefferson Colored Graded/Elementary School. Jefferson High School, completed in 1926, was one of only ten African-American high schools in Virginia at that time.
The Legacy
The legacy of Jefferson School is a remarkable one. It has served for over 125 years as the cornerstone for African-American citizens of Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County, providing a venue and focal point for their emergence as a dynamic and vital part of the community’s social history during the 20th century. It represents a spirit of tenacity and dedication to the highest national ideals of equality and fairness, inclusiveness, and respect. And today, it marks the coming together of the African-American and white communities of Charlottesville in this vibrant center for nonprofits serving diverse communities.
A testament to the durability of the human spirit.
Resource: The Reflector, An African-American newspaper depicting African-American Life in Charlottesville, VA, during the Jim Crow Era.