Oral History: Rosemarie Schelling

Rosemarie Schelling and her family moved to the Braddock District when her husband was stationed at the Pentagon during the 1960s. Their five children joined a neighborhood of large families. Rosemarie Schelling remembers family activities, outdoor sports, rural roads, and holiday celebrations.She traces changes in daily life.

Library, Manassas Industrial School

Students in the library of the Manassas Industrial School during the 1950s. Jennie Dean, born a slave in Prince William County, founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1894. Originally a private boarding school, it was a segregated regional high school for African Americans between 1938 and 1966. Students came from the area north of the Rappahannock River, providing their own transportation or boarding on campus during the week. Students followed academic subjects and skilled trade courses.

Courtesy of the Manassas Museum System, Manassas, Virginia

Manassas Museum photos are copyrighted and for use only with permission of the Museum.

Manassas Industrial School, circa 1940

Jennie Dean, born a slave in Prince William County, founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth in 1894. Originally a private boarding school, it was a segregated regional high school for African Americans between 1938 and 1966. Students came from the area north of the Rappahannock River, providing their own transportation or boarding on campus during the week. Students followed academic subjects and skilled trade courses.

Courtesy of the Manassas Museum System, Manassas, Virginia

Manassas Museum photos are copyrighted and for use only with permission of the Museum.

Cosmetology Class, Manassas Industrial School, 1950s

Jennie Dean, born a slave in Prince William County, founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. The school, a private facility which offered academic subjects as well as skilled trade courses, opened in October 1894. From 1938 until 1966, it was a segregated regional high school for African Americans living in Northern Virginia. African Americans from almost half of Virginia had connections to the Manassas Industrial School.

Courtesy of the Manassas Museum System, Manassas, Virginia

Manassas Museum photos are copyrighted and for use only with permission of the Museum.

Cheerleaders, Manassas Industrial School

Jennie Dean, born a slave in Prince William County, founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. The school, a private facility which offereed academic subjects as well as skilled trade courses, opened in October 1894. From 1938 until 1966, it was a segregated regional high school for African Americans living in Northern Virginia. African Americans from almost half of Virginia had connections to the Manassas Industrial School.

Courtesy of the Manassas Museum System, Manassas, Virginia

Manassas Museum photos are copyrighted and for use only with permission of the Museum.

Carpentry class, Manassas Industrial School, circa 1961

Jennie Dean, born a slave in Prince William County, founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth. The school, a private facility which offered academic subjects as well as skilled trade courses, opened in October 1894. From 1938 until 1966, it was a segregated regional high school for African Americans living in Northern Virginia. African Americans from almost half of Virginia had connections to the Manassas Industrial School.

Courtesy of the Manassas Museum System, Manassas, Virginia

Manassas Museum photos are copyrighted and for use only with permission of the Museum.

Kings Park Elementary School

A Thursday, November 19, 1964, newspaper article in the Springfield Independent reports on the opening of Kings Park Elementary School, the 121st school to open in Fairfax County.

Courtesy Robert Hunt

George Mason University

Students gather in front of the Johnson Center at George Mason University under the statue of George Mason. The statue is a barometer for public concerns as it is decorated for events that are meaningful to the campus community. George Mason University (GMU) opened in 1957 as a branch of the University of Virginia in a former elementary school in Bailey's Crossroads. In 1958, the City of Fairfax donated 150 acres in Braddock District for a permanent location, which opened for classes in 1964. The Virginia General Assembly subsequently established GMU as a four-year regional university and in 1972, the school separated from the University of Virginia as an independent member of the state university system. GMU also has campuses in Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun counties as well as the United Arab Emirates.

Photo by Gilbert Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue

Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC): Annandale Campus

The Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) is part of the multi-campus institution. In 1966, then-Governor Mills Godwin established the community college system in Northern Virginia.

In 2005, NVCC included campuses in Annandale, Arlington/Alexandria, Woodbridge, Manassas and Loudoun with a medical campus in Springfield. Each of the campuses was built on a major road artery for easy student access.

Photo by Gilbert Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue

Terra Centre Elementary School, Burke

Terra Centre Elementary School was built underground for energy efficiency. The school's roof doubles as an athletic field.

Photo by Gilbert Donahue

Copyrighted material, not to be reproduced without permission of owner, Gilbert Donahue