Thomas Jefferson High School

Thomas Jefferson High School (c.1930)

Thomas Jefferson High School (2014)

Site name: Thomas Jefferson High School 

Date of Construction: 1930  

Reason for construction:  It was built to relieve overcrowding at the time from the central Richmond area and it served as a high school for the incoming population coming from the city’s central core and the North side of Richmond.

Site history: Thomas Jefferson High School is located in the West End of Richmond, Virginia.  It was opened on September 11, 1930 in a relatively undeveloped area. The school’s location was away from the center of population in the North side and central Richmond area, and was built to relieve overcrowding at the time. Thomas Jefferson High School was able to withstand many wars, the Great Depression, and segregation. It is still a Richmond public school, but it has been designated a Virginia Historical Landmark.

Area History: The West End area of Richmond Virginia began to prosper and grow during the early 1900s. It was thought of as a commercially beneficial area, so architects began to build a town in the West End area. The area was originally undeveloped and sparsely populated, until the introduction of a variety of buildings, schools, and jobs with different architectural styles. Some of the historic buildings in a variety of architectural styles within the West End area are Italianate, Colonial Revival, Bungalow, American Foursquare, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial, and Art Deco. People were attracted to these new, modern buildings, which increased the population greatly.

What about the site has changed? The school use to be segregated. Richmond eventually adopted a freedom of choice plan after the Brown v. Board of Education casein the 1966-67 school year, but the policy resulted in hardly any integration among Richmond Public Schools.  Students rallied their classmates, alumni, and other members of the community, then marched from Thomas Jefferson to City Hall, and convinced the school board to keep the school open. Today, the school continues to serve many cultures which show the dynamic changes in our local, state, and national populations.

What about the surrounding has changed? The area began to populate with the creation of buildings, schools, and jobs. The buildings gave that part of a city an urbanized look which attracted many families.  Jobs also brought many people to the area, and the city of Richmond began a gradual westward expansion from its commercial center to areas of the West End. Schools increased the number of educated people in the region and continues to serve as a place to educate anyone who is willing to learn.

Reflection: I have been going to Richmond Public Schools for all my life, and I have been curious about the history of most of them. I found it interesting that Thomas Jefferson High School was able to withstand many wars, the Great Depression, and segregation. The area was also able to prosper with the formation of businesses, schools, and housing for the incoming population.

Sources:

Duke, Daniel Linden. Continuity and Change at Thomas Jefferson High School. Suny series. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1995.

 "The Fan Area Historic District." Fan of the Fan. Accessed March 22, 2014. http://fanofthefan.com/2012/01/the-fan-area-historic-district/.

"Thomas Jefferson High School." Richmond Public Schools. Accessed February 20, 2014. http://web.richmond.k12.va.us/tjhs/About/History.aspx.

Author: Joi Best

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