Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Christiansburg, Va.]]> Education, Secondary]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Permission to publish material from the Christiansburg Industrial Institute Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> African American history]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Iron foundries--Virginia]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]>
His wife, Ethel Dobbins of Bedford, Virginia, briefly discusses grocery stores in the Montgomery County area and relations between Black and White residents.]]>
Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>
African American history]]> Christiansburg Industrial Institute.]]> Christiansburg, Va.]]> Coal mines and mining]]> Ku Klux Klan (1915- )]]> Permission to publish material from the Black Appalachians Oral History Project must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6198]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> 1925/1926]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Ephemera]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> African American history]]> Sharecropping--Virginia.]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> See the Finding Aid for the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, collection]]> 1920/1930]]> Permission to publish material from the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Photographs]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> African American history]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Sharecropping--Virginia.]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> See the Finding Aid for the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, collection]]> 1920/1930]]> Permission to publish material from the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Photographs]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> African American history]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Sharecropping--Virginia.]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> See the Finding Aid for the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, collection]]> 1920/1930]]> Permission to publish material from the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Photographs]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> n.d.]]> Photographs]]> African American history]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Sharecropping--Virginia.]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> See the Finding Aid for the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, collection]]> 1920/1930]]> Permission to publish material from the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Photographs]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> African American history]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Sharecropping--Virginia.]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> See the Finding Aid for the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, collection]]> 1920/1930]]> Permission to publish material from the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Photographs]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> African American history]]> Farm tenancy--Virginia.]]> Sharecropping--Virginia.]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> See the Finding Aid for the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, collection]]> 1920/1930]]> Permission to publish material from the African-American Tenant Farmer Photographs, Clarksville, Virginia, must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Photographs]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Women]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6222]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records]]> 1916]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Postcards]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Odd Fellows Journal (Ms1988-009)]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Odd Fellows Journal ]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6199]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> n.d.]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Ephemera]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Odd Fellow's Journal Subscription (Ms1988-009)]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Odd Fellows Journal subscription stamped "PAID".]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6197]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> 1926-07-01]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Administrative records]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Women]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6217]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> 1919-05-31]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Bills]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6208]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> 1946]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Administrative records]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6184]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> 1914]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Books]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6203]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> n.d.]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Catalogs]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]> Local/Regional History and Appalachian South]]> African American history]]> Montgomery County (Va.)]]> Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America, Tadmore Light Lodge #6205]]> See the Finding Aid for the Blacksburg Virginia Odd Fellows Records]]> 1943-02]]> https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/?language=en]]> Newspapers]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> African American history]]> Virginia--History]]>
The "Lily Black" Republican ticket of 1921 was in response to the all white ("Lily White") ticket put forward by the Republican party of Virginia. Neither Republican ticket won in 1921, as the Democratic party swept the elections. Although several names appear on the "Lily Black" Republican ticket, biographical information exists only for Maggie L. Walker, John Mitchell, Jr., and Joseph Thomas ( J.T. ) Newsome.

Maggie Lena Mitchell was born on July 15, 1864 in Richmond, Virginia, and married Armstead Walker, Jr. in 1886. At age fourteen Maggie joined the local chapter of the Independent Order of St. Luke, a fraternal and cooperative insurance society. Eventually, Maggie achieved the title of Right Worthy Grand Secretary in 1899, created The St. Luke Herald in 1902, and founded the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903—thus making her the first woman to charter a bank in the United States. Maggie also devoted time to promoting African American women's rights. This civic concern eventually expressed itself in an unsuccessful bid for the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1921. Maggie Lena Walker died on December 15, 1934.

John Mitchell, Jr. was born July 11, 1863. Mitchell was the editor of the Richmond Planet, a paper that exposed racial injustice, and the President of the National Afro-American Press Association. Elected to Richmond's Board of Alderman from Jackson Ward in 1892, Mitchell eventually made an unsuccessful bid for the governor's office in 1921. Mitchell also founded, and was president of, the Mechanics Savings Bank which fell into legal trouble and was eventually rechartered by the state in July, 1924. Due to the bank's failure, Mitchell lost his assets and eventually died on December 3, 1929.

Joseph Thomas ( J.T. ) Newsome was born on June 2, 1869 in Sussex County, Virginia, to Joseph and Anne Newsome. After attending Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute in Petersburg, Newsome received his law degree from Howard University in 1898. Newsome married Mary Beatrice Winfield and moved to Newport News where he became a successful lawyer, the editor of the Newport News Star, a public speaker, and a politician. In 1921 Newsome unsuccessfully ran for state attorney general and the first congressional district seat. Joseph Thomas Newsome died on March 9, 1942.
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Virginia Republican Party]]> See the Finding Aid for the Virginia Republican Party Ticket, 1921]]> 1921]]> Permission to publish material from the Virginia Republican Party Ticket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Ephemera]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>
University History]]> African American history]]>
While at Booker T. Washington high school, he excelled in academics and caught the attention of his physics teacher, who had started his own guidance program. This teacher suggested that Matt get an engineering education at a Virginia university, which up to that point Matt and other Black students had thought impossible. He ended up getting a grant from a foundation to attend college and decided to come to Virginia Tech.

He recalls being overwhelmed by the Virginia Tech campus and to be living in the mountains. At the time, Virginia Tech was largely attended by World War II veterans, and Matt remembers there being a behavioral distinction between the men who had served and those like him who weren’t and saw college as “freedom to get away from home.”

As one of the earliest Black students to ever attend Virginia Tech, Matt remembers some instances of discrimination, but he also states that he had an easier time than other Black students who came before him, such as Charlie Yates. Matt was unable to attend the Ring Dance because he was Black and recalls getting a call from President Newman telling him so. He also remembers an instance where a professor stopped teaching one of his classes because he didn’t want to teach a class with a Black student in it. Though Matt had troubles and sometimes felt isolated during his early years at Virginia Tech, he also states that he cannot remember a troublesome incident with any student. He was also welcomed by the Black community in Blacksburg and grew a family-like bond with other African American individuals in the town.

Following his graduation in 1959, Matt got a job at NASA’s Langley Research Center, where many other Virginia Tech graduates worked at the time. He ended up working there for 36 years. While working for NASA Matt was able to go to Virginia Tech to speak with Hokie students about his job over the years, which he greatly enjoyed. When speaking with these students, Matt would emphasize how a Virginia Tech education would always serve them no matter where they went or where they worked.

Matt’s influence as one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech has influenced someone very close to him, his son, Matt Winston Jr. who now serves as Vice President for Alumni Relations at Virginia Tech. Matt Winston Jr. states that people continually come up to him with memories of attending Virginia Tech with his father, and that “if everything that he and his classmates can go through they walk out of here and they say they still love Virginia Tech, then I'm like why shouldn’t everybody love Virginia Tech? . . . . And so I think that’s what my calling and my job is, and so it may sound like a movie script or something, but I couldn’t be doing what I'm doing if my dad hadn’t done what he did.”

Through all the hardship, loneliness, and good times, Matt Winston Sr. has developed an intense Hokie Pride and a gratefulness for the institution. Today, he credits Virginia Tech with teaching him humility and dealing with adversity. Today, Matt represents one of many students who led the way for future minority Hokies. His influence, optimism, and success demonstrate true Hokie spirit.]]>
2018-02-09]]> Matt Winston, Sr., VT Stories]]> Oral histories]]>