Category: Snowden

Behind the Scene of the article “Standing on Historical Land: James E. Henson, Esq.”

From left to right: James E. Henson Jr., Deardria Henson, Sharon Henson and James E. Henson Sr.

Mr. James E. Henson, Sr., has been a very lucky man. His aunt Eleanor McGuire Massie left him her house at 607 South Pitt Street. James and his wife, Ardene moved in the house in 2007. This house stands on the original spot of the first colored public school, Snowden School for Boys (1870 – 1916).

James was born into a family that has made many historical achievements. His mother’s uncle was the famous Matthew Alexander Henson who was an explorer with Robert Peary to the Arctic and the North Pole. In addition, James’s great-great uncle was Josiah Henson, whose life was depicted in the famous book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”

James’ paternal aunt, Alice McGuire married the famous John A. Seaton who was the first African American Alderman in Alexandria. The famous 19th Century preacher, Reverend Samuel W. Madden, married all the McGuire women, Alice, Blanche, Louisa, and Nannie. He was the pastor at Alfred Street Baptist Church.

James E. Henson, Esq., has made his own achievements. He is a retired attorney. He was the first African American lawyer to serve as assistant county solicitor of Howard County and deputy director for the Maryland Commission on Human Relations. He has taught business law at Morgan State University and at Howard Community College in Maryland. Prior to his law career, Mr. Henson served twenty years in the United States Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant.

Mr. Henson was born in Alexandria in 1936. He graduated from Parker-Gray High School in 1954. He is the former president of Alexandria’s Departmental Progressive Club. In addition, he is one of the founders and a former president of the Alumni Association of Parker-Gray School. He was a chairman of the Charles Houston Ad Hoc Naming/Narrative Committee and the Change Agents for Historic Alexandria book project. He coauthor, “African Americans of Alexandria, Virginia: Beacons of Light in the Twentieth Century.” To add on to his family’s achievements James E. Henson, Sr., became the 2019 Living Legend in Alexandria, Virginia.

You can read more about “Standing on Historical Land: James E. Henson, Esq.” in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper date July 1, 2020 on pages 6 and 12 at
http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2020/070120/Alexandria.pdf.

Beating The Odds: Patrick H. Lumpkins

Patrick H. Lumpkins had beaten the odds, he had a disability due to slavery but he excelled after the civil war. Besides being a teacher and a music director, he raised a family. His daughter, Helen Lumpkins Robinson Day, became a well-known teacher, choir director and community activist. In 1950s, Patrick’s son Patrick II was working for Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCO).

You can read more about Patrick H. Lumpkins in the Alexandria Gazette newspaper dated November 20, 2019 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2019/112019/Alexandria.pdf.

From Slavery to Principal

John F. Parker
Snowden School for Boys

Behind the scenes of the Alexandria Gazette Packet’s article on, “From Slavery to Principal” February 28, 2019.

I have been researching John F. Parker, the second principal of Snowden School for Boys for a number of years, I found that his accomplishments and his strength to endure hardship and health issues were extremely courageous.

He was born into slavery on his owner’s plantation in Alexandria. After he was emancipated, he worked for several years before becoming a teacher then a principal. Unfortunately for him and his wife, their only child died before his 10th birthday. John had a brother, William Madison Mason Parker who married Mary Hooe. They had several children. Through his brother’s children and grandchild, John’s legacy is known today. His great-nephews and nieces are the Taylor family, Donald, Charlene, John and Alvin; his Dogan family, Bettie and Thelma (Sugar); his Burke family is Frances Burke; he also has many more relatives and great-great nieces and nephews that hold their heads up high because John was such a great man.

You can read the article, “From Slavery to Principal, from the Alexandria Gazette Packet on page 6 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2019/022719/Alexandria.pdf.

Snowden School for Boys – Mr. Henry T. White’s Class of 1907 – 1908 in Alexandria, VA

Mr. Henry T. White’s Class year of 1907-1908 Snowden Boys School

Listed below are the students for the class year of 1907 – 1908 at Snowden Boys School. There were 46 students in Mr. Henry T. White‘s class. The students in that class included Robert W. Burke and his brother, Rosier Burke. They lived at 324 North Payne Street.

Teacher – Mr. Henry T. White

Anderson, John – 325 N. Fayette Street – age 14 – 2nd grade
Bailey, Jesse – 1311 Queen Street – age 9 – 2nd grade
Bailey, Thomas – 1311 Queen Street – age 8 – 1st grade
Beale, Moses – 615 N Henry Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Burke, Harry – 425 S Columbus Street – age 8 – 1st grade
Burke, Robert – 324 N Payne Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Burke, Roiser – 324 N Payne Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Bryant, Frank – Princess & Royal Streets – age 8 – 2nd grade
Chisley, Charles – 904½ Pendleton Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Churchful, James – 209 N West Street – age 13 – 2nd grade
Coleman, William – 222 N Henry Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Colbert, William – 813 Gibbon Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Davis, Rosier – 1011 Wolfe Street – age 11 – 2nd grade
Duckett, James – 438 S Columbus Street – age 11 – 2nd grade
Gaddis, Andrew – 305 N West Street – age 13 – 2nd grade
Gaskins, Andrew – 523 N Pitt Street – age 11 – 2nd grade
Ghant, Roscoe – 421 S Columbus Street – age 9 – 1st grade
Hackley, Russell – 1014 Wythe Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Harris, John – 118 S Peyton Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Harris, Robert – 1010 N Washington Street – age 13 – 2nd grade
Henderson, Willis – Fawcett Court – age 11 – 1st grade
Holland, Thomas – 206 N Payne Street – age 9 – 2nd grade
Jackson, Richard – 434 N Fairfax Street – age 12 – 2nd grade
Jackson, William – 522 S Pitt Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Jones, Joseph – 118 Prince Street – age 11 – 1st grade
Jones, Lawrence – 1118 Princes Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Kyer, Clarence – 404 N Pitt Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Lane, Claude – 417 N Henry Street – age 10 – 1st grade
Lane, David – 417 N Henry Street – age 9 – 1st grade
Marlow, Henry – 608 S Pitt Street – age 13 – 1st grade
Marlow, Samuel – 608 S Pitt Street – age 11 – 1st grade
Marshall, D – 816 S Columbus Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Minor, Clarence – 422 S Columbus Street – age 12 – 2nd grade
Minor, Frank – 422 S Columbus Street – age 10 – 1st grade
Mitchell, Thomas – Fleischman Court – age 13 – 2nd grade
Napper, Albert – 615½ S Alfred Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Palmer, John – 527 S St. Asaph Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Poindexter, Charles – 406 N Pitt Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Smith, Robert – 636 S. Pitt Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Thompson, Robert – 1309 Queen Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Triplett, William – 620 S Pitt Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Wair, Clinton – 418 N Pitt Street – age 9 – 2nd grade
Washington, Clarence – 208 N Payne Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
White, Russell – 511 N Henry Street – age 8 – 2nd grade
Williams, Rufus – 308 N Alfred Street – age 10 – 2nd grade
Wood, Alexandria – 619 N Henry Street – age 13 – 2nd grade

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