Teacher Ida S. Marshal writes to Supt. Van Derlip to request a teaching position somewhere farther south (possibly Louisiana). The school at Churchville is now supported by the N.E. Freedmen's Aid Society, and she is uncertain if they will be able to pay her an adequate salary.
Ida S. Marshall informs Supt. Van Derlip that she and the Churchville school trustees have set June 2 as the date for their public meeting. She urges Van Derlip to attend and asks him to forward a letter from her to George M. McComas, as she does not have his address. She also asks for the exact number and names of distinguished guests she presumes Van Derlip will bring with him.
Teacher Ida S. Marshall reports that enthusiasm for education is flagging at Churchville. She suggests that Supt. Van Derlip and other officials come and address the people later in the month.
Churchville teacher Ida S. Marshall responds to Supt. Van Derlip's letter of May 21, in which he asserted that she had misunderstood his previous letter (of May 12) regarding his inability to come to Churchville on June 2 due to a previous commitment to visit McComas school. Marshall asserts that she was unaware of this commitment, and returns Van Derlip's May 12 letter to him along with this one, to show him that he did not say anything about it in that letter. She also reports that she has met with George M. McComas, and that he will make all necessary arrangements for a visit to take place after June 19. She again invites Maj. Van Derlip's attendance.
Teacher Ida S. Marshall requests Bureau assistance to enlarge the school building at Churchville. She has 54 students and the schoolhouse cannot accommodate more than 30.
Ida S. Marshall informs Supt. Kimball that she intends to hold a public examination of her school on June 19 and she invites him to attend. She has also written to Judge Hugh Lennox Bond inviting him to attend.
Teacher Ida S. Marshall has applied for position of "Postmistress of Churchville." She requests that Supt. Kimball write a letter of recommendation to the U.S. Postmaster General. She has written to Judge Hugh Lennox Bond requesting the same.
Teacher Ida S. Marshall acknowledges receipt of Supt. Kimball's letter of Feb. 15, adding that the trustees have been encouraged by it. She refers to Kimball's recent visit and hopes he will visit again soon.
Churchville teacher Ida S. Marshall states to Supt. Kimball that her school is much too small. Local people have purchased land for a new school and church, but the church trustees will not deed any part of it to the school trustees. She request his advice.
Former Churchville teacher writes from Newport, R.I., to Freedmen's Bureau Education Superintendent John W. Alvord. Citing meager salary and exposure to harsh weather during her time in Maryland, Marshall desires a teaching position in another place, perhaps farther south, and asks for Alvord's assistance. She had written to D.C. education superintendent Van Derlip on July 18 on the same subject.
Records purchase of the following items by the Freedmen's Bureau on behalf of Phenia Crisfied at Darlington: 12 Hunts Spellers ($2.00)
6 Mitchells New Primy Geog ($3.78)
12 P. D and S. Copy Books ($1.80)
1 Gross 404 pens ($0.90)
1 Gross Chalk pencils ($0.50)
1 Box pencils ($0.25)
Freight ($0.35)
Total: $9.58
Ralph Williams requested to DeCoursey to say that J. Dallum discharged his daughter in March last and he had no wish to prosecute the claim further. Williams also stated that he had received a letter from Mr. Peter Sculy stating that he has on her return home his granddaughter.
Anderson Institute trustee. Corresponded with Freedmen's Bureau about building materials, the construction of the school, and school furniture. Also communicated with Bureau about Elizabeth Perker (Peaker, Peeker, Peaco) and Ralph Williams.
DeCoursey states that William Potts, carpenter, has worked 10 3/4 days and has been advanced $13.50. He also requests additional flooring and lumber for shutters and stairs for Anderson Institute.
Isaiah DeCoursey includes a final bill for lumber from John DuBois, a final bill for hardware from Ab. Lyon and Co., and a painter's estimate. A public collection will be held in the schoolhouse the following Tuesday to raise funds to cover the community's liability on the house.
Isaiah DeCoursey requests more materials to complete both floors of the schoolhouse at Havre de Grace. He reports the total time worked of William Potts. Also asks Wright to retain board money of $9.50.
New Thomas Run teacher J. F. Pierpont Dickson writes to Commissioner Howard that he has left his previous school at East New Market, Md. and gone to Hickory (Thomas Run). The primary purpose of her letter, however, is to ask for Howard's assistance in seeking redress for abuse she suffered at the hands to two Dorchester & Delaware Railroad employees on Christmas Day, 1869. Dickson had attempted to board the train car of her choosing in order to travel to visit another teacher in Salisbury, Md. She had been prevented from doing so by these men, who insisted that she ride in the smoking car due to her race, and had manhandled her when she resisted being removed.
Response to Anderson's request for money to cover the cost of transportation for a new job in Shreveport, Louisiana. Lowell states that the Society will not provide funds for the trip to Louisiana, but does offer Anderson a job teaching at a local school.
J. F. Pierpont Dickson (also known as J. F. P. Dickson or Julie Dickson) was an African American woman who taught at the Thomas Run/Clark’s Chapel school. The exact date of her assignment to this school is unknown, but she filed monthly teacher’s reports from January to June, 1870. Previously she had taught at a school in Dorcester County, Maryland. Dickson’s sponsoring benevolent society was the New England Freedmen's Aid Society (aka the New England Branch of the Freedmen’s Union Committee). Her home state is unknown and she has not been identified with confidence in the U.S. census.
In January, 1870, Dickson sent a letter directly to Freedmen’s Bureau Commissioner Oliver O. Howard, seeking redress for an incident that took place in October of 1869, when Dickson was teaching in Dorcester County. She was boarding a train with other passengers, when the brakeman, Charles Stewart, approached and told her that she must ride in the smoking car. Dickson refused, whereupon Stewart called over the conductor, Daniel Muze, and again insisted that the car she was boarding was “for white folks” only. As this was happening, Stewart opened the door for some white passengers to enter, and as Dickson attempted to enter with them, he grabbed “violently” by the arm, tearing her cloak and gloves. He dragged her away from the train and threw her against the platform railing. Still, Dickson refused to board the smoking car. She threatened to sue, and was told by Stewart to “sue and be damned.” She ended up standing on the open area at the end of the train car for the journey, and in her letter she told Howard that she was still suffering from the ill effects of her resulting exposure to the cold. There is no evidence that the Bureau took any action in response to her letter among the records of the commissioner's office.
James A. Pitt reports on behalf of the trustees at Perrymansville that they have purchased a 1/4 acre lot from a church. They request a building plan and dimensions to work with, and a blank deed form for them to use. They would like to have a two-story schoolhouse due to the large size of the community and their desire to engage with literary societies and other organizations in their work.
James A. Pitt and four other school trustees at Perrymansville are going to acquire 1/4 acre of a church lot and expect to have a deed for it soon. They ask whether acquiring of the lot is sufficient to receive recognition from the Bureau, or if they must produce a deed.