Read Part One HERE
In this post I will continue to focus on a woman named Myrtilla Miner. She lived from 1815 - 1864. Despite hostility from a portion of the community, the school prospered, but was forced to move several times in its first few years. Within 2 months of its opening the enrollment grew from 6 to 40, and Myrtilla moved her students into another residence with larger acommodations. Threats from white neighbours to set fire to the house forced Myrtilla to leave after only one month.
With aid from her supporters, she was finally able to purchase a three-acre lot with house and barn on the edge of the city. Though the environment of this home was most pleasing, Mytilla and her pupils were frequently assaulted with stones and other missiles.
In 1860, the school had to be closed. However, on March 3, 1863, the US Senate granted the Coloured Girls School a charter as the Institution for the Education of Coloured Youth and named Myrtilla as one of its directors. However, she was never able to return to the school when it reopened.
Myrtilla died from injuries sustained in a carriage accident on December 17, 1864, aged 49.
Read Part One Hundred And Forty HERE
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