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Elizabeth Evelyn Wright was born in
Talbottoa, Ga., on April 3, 1874.
When quite young she entered the
Tuskegee Institute to work for an educa¬
tion but because of her ill health and
frail constitution was forced to go back
home. Judge George W. Kelley, of Rock¬
land, Mass., heard of her persevering
spirit and came to her rescue with finan¬
cial aid, which act he has never had
cause to regret.
Miss Wright came to South Carolina
after graduating at Tuskegee, located at
Denmark and founded this work on
April 14, 1897.
The school has grown rapidly, having
at present a property valuation of $50,000
with no permanent source of support.
On June 2, 1906, she was united in
matrimony to Martin A. Menafee, Treas¬
urer of the Institution, by Rev. R. C.
Bedford, of Beloit, Wis., and on Decem¬
ber 14, 1906, passed to her reward. This
work is her monument.
I
What is the name of your school?
Ans. Voorhe»s Industrial School.
II
Where is it located?
Ans. It is situated near the central part of
S. C., a mile and a half from the little country
village, Denmark. Denmark has great railroad
facilities. The S. A. h., the Atlantic Coast Iyine,
and the Southern Railway all pass through the
village, and it can be easily reached from any
direction. The town is a very quiet place and
the school, being one and a half miles away,
makes it well suited for study. The location is
in a healthful section. Denmark is 80 miles
from Charleston, 56 miles east of Augusta, Ga.,
57 miles south of Columbia, 93 miles northeast
of Savannah, Ga.
III
When was it founded?
Ans. It was founded April 14th, 1897, with
14 students (but the number soon increased)
and two teachers. We found nothing here and
decided to try to make something out of nothing.
The school was begun upstairs over an old store,
without any facilities whatever. Chairs and a
bell had to be borrowed. Had no money to pay
rent, and two rooms were given free.
IV
When the work was started how much money
did you have ?
Ans. I didn't have a penny and I didn't
know where the money was coming from to
sustain such an undertaking as I had planned.
I trusted God and asked Him to help me carry
out my plans, as I was so anxious to help to ele¬
vate my race. The thought came to me to ask
the churches iu the counties in which I worked
to aid me. Going from place to place each
Sunday (had to walk at times from five to eight
miles) I told the people of my plans to help
them, and they gave me $200.
V
Have you made any progress during the ten
years?
Ans. Yes, we have made wonderful progress.
The school owns 400 acres of land, 7 horses, 11
mules, 24 cows, 30 hogs, 4 wagons, 6 large
buildings, a large barn, 6 small buildings and
farming implements.
VI
Do you owe for any of the above property ?
Ans. No, the school is entirely free of debt,
and if means could be gotten greater results
would soon be seen. We make it a point to
stay out of debt.
VII
What is the value of the property which the
school owns?
Ans. It is estimated at a value of $50,000.00.
The property has been accumulated within ten
years.
VIII
Why do you need so much land?
Ans. There are so many boys and girls who
are not able to attend day school, and so we had
to provide a farm for them in order that they
may work during the day and attend night
school. We give them an opportunity to help
themselves, which is the best help.
IX
How many students attend the school ?
Ans. Last term we had 400 and could have
had more, but had no accommodations for them.
X
Is it a boarding school?
Ans. Yes, we can accommodate 150 students.
We have room for 100 boys and 50 girls.
XI
What are the needs of the boarding department?
Ans. I am sure we need most everything;
chairs, dishes, bedsteads and bedding would be
of much help. I wish so much some good
friends who are interested in such work would
send us a few iron bedsteads. About $600
would put this department in good condition.
XII
For what purpose is the land used ?
Ans. Such crops as corn, peas, rice, cane,
peanuts and vegetables are raised. Our crops
have turned out well this year. The farm saves
the school so much, and without it we could not
board our teachers and students.
XIII
Who does the work ?
Ans. All the work is done by students. They
take pleasure in cultivating the crops. We are
trying to teach them to dignify labor and get
pleasure out of work which has been considered
drudgery by many.
XIV
Is the farm in need of anything ?
Ans. Farm implements are needed. Have
been borrowing each year. If the school had
its own, much better work could be done and
time saved. As so many thousands of my race
cultivate the soil, I find it necessary to teach our
boys farming while here. I hope some one who
is interested in our race along the line of farm¬
ing will see the wisdom and justice in our try-
ing to develop our boys in Agriculture and will
come to our rescue. About $600 will put our
farm in good shape. We need wire to fence iu
the entire farm.
XV
What industries are taught the students ?
Ans. The boj7s are taught farming, carpentry,
blacksmithing, wheel-wrighting, printing, and
brick-masonry ; girls, cooking, laundrying,
housekeeping, simple treatment of the sick,
millinery, basketry, mattressmaking, broom-
making, and every girl is taught sewing. The
industrial work is not what I want it to be. We
need money to erect a building for the girls'
industries, and as soon as some one sees fit to
help us to get a building, I am sure more indus¬
tries will be added and a great multitude will
be helped. $8,000 will erect a building.
XVI
What other industries do you want to add ?
Ans. If means could be gotten, we would
like to add tailoring, harness-making and can¬
ning. I do wish some friends would send means
to begin these industries. They would be of
much value to our work, and would give em¬
ployment to our students.
XVII
Have you any brick buildings?
Ans. Yes, two, and we would like for the
industrial building to be brick. We find in the
long run brick buildings are the cheapest.
XVIII
Have you a brick yard?
Ans. No, I would be very grateful if some
one would give us about $2,000 to begin a brick¬
yard. If we had the means to get the imple¬
ments, our boys could make brick for the school
and the community at large which would be a
great help to the school.
XIX
Are you anxious to develop the industrial side
of the work?
Ans. Yes, we have so many boys who want
trades and if we had means we could put in
trades so the boys and girls could become useful
men and women. $3,000 would put our indus¬
trial work just where I would like to see it.
XX
Can you use second hand clothes ?
Ans. Yes, to much advantage. We wish
friends would send all they can, for our students
are very needy. We also wish friends would
send sheets and pillow cases or bedding of any
kind, and also table linen, napkins, and towels.
XXI
Can old shoes be used?
Ans. Yes, we can have them repaired in our
shoe-shop and we need them for the boys to
practice on.
XXII
Do you see any improvement in the students?
Ans. Each year marked improvement, re¬
ligiously, morally and intellectually can be seen
in the students. We put forth every effort pos¬
sible to teach them to be truthful and moral in
the truest sense of the word. We want them to
reach the highest standard of morality and never
know how to tell anything but the truth.
XXJII
How much money will it take to put the school
on a good foundation ?
Ans. I do wish God would put it into several
friends' hearts to give us $ioo,ooo, and I am sure
that amount will put the work on a good foun¬
dation. It will be accepted in any amounts.
The small sums run the work.
XXIV
Who are the managers of the work?
Ans Mr. Gabriel B. Miller, Mr. Martin A.
Menafee, and Miss Jessie C. Dorsey.
XXV
Where did they study ?
Ans. Mr. Miller and Mr. Menafee took the
course of study at Tuskegee, Ala., in Mr. B. T.
Wasington's school, and Miss Dorsey took the
course in the High School at Coshocton, O.
XXVI
How many teachers are connected with the work?
Ans. Eighteen teachers are connected with
the work.
XXVII
Who are some of the trustees?
Ans. Hon. S. G. Mayfield, Rev. M. W. Gil¬
bert, Rev. R. C. Bedford, Misses Olivia E. P.
Stokes, Emily Howland, Dr. J. H. Kellogg,
and Mrs. A. S. Steele.
XXVIII
How is the work supported ?
Ans. It ia supported by charitably disposed
friends of the North and South, and the county
pays one teacher for four months. If friends
fail to remember this needy cause it will be sure
to die, and thousands will be left to come up in
ignorance. Too much hard work has already
been done for the cause not to be supported.
XXIX
On what terms are the school and the whites ?
Ans. On the most friendly terms. They
help in many ways to make the work a success.
XXX
How long does the school run?
Ans. It r,uns seven and a half months. If
means could be gotten to pay teachers for their
services, it would run nine months.
XXXI
Is it a hard task to raise money to carry the
work on?
Ans. Yes; I find it a very hard task to raise
money to carry the work on. I know if friends
who are interested in the elevation of the Negro
knew how hard I am struggling to better their
condition and to make them better citizens,
they would come to my rescue and gladly help
me make the work what it should be.
XXXII
How do you get money to pay teachers?
Ans. Raising money for the teachers' salaries
is my greatest punishment each year. Friends
send in donations which go to pay teachers. I
am to raise $3,000 to pay teachers this term, and
so far have but little of it. I know when friends
find out more about this work they will be will¬
ing to help us.
XXXIII
How must money and second hand clothes be
sent to the work?
Ans. Money may be sent by drafts, checks
and postoffice money orders. Address to Martin
A. Menafee, Treasurer, Denmark, S. C., P. O. Box
A, Mr. B. T. Washington, Tuskegee, Ala., Geo.
W. Kelley. Esq., Rockland, Mass., or to Mr.
Alex. C. Wood, Sinnaminson, N. J. Second
hand clothes may be sent by freight, and, as
Denmark is situated on three railroads, there is
no danger of it being lost.
XXXIV
Do the negroes help in any way to support
the work ?
Ans. They do, though they are very pour
and give at a sacrifice. One dollar to thetn
means so much. In a rally they gave $75.00
towards building our new school-house.
XXXV
What is the object of the school?
Ans. The object of the school is to go into
the rural districts and to try to reach the masses,
and provide for them such an education which
will most benefit them for the duties of life.
It is our object to educate the heart, head and
hand, and we feel that industrial education
should be given if we hope to accomplish the
most good. We are realizing more fully each
day that a high education is for the few, and
industrial training along with an academic
education is for the masses. As ignorance and
superstition have not been obliterated, and ex¬
ists in the rural districts, it is our desire to go
into these places and give the youths a
thorough mental and religious training. Where
ignorance and superstition reign there must be
vice and crime, and we are doing all we can to
create love for purity among the Negroes in
the rural places, and if we cnn provide indus¬
trial training, along with an academic course,
such training will enable the boys and girls
to get a firm foundation and then they will be
able to obtain an honest living by which they
will be respected by other races and recognized
as good citizens.
A. W. KNIGHT, PRINTER
1907
BAMBERG S. C.