Lucy Craft Laney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucy Craft Laney
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| Born | April 13, 1854 |
| Died | October 23, 1933 (aged 79) |
| Education | Atlanta University University of Chicago Lincoln University South Carolina State College |
| Alma mater | Atlanta University |
| Occupation | Principal |
| Years active | 1886–1933 |
| Employer | Haines Normal and Industrial School |
| Known for | Principal and founder of Haines Normal and Industrial School, Augusta, Georgia |
| Political party | Republican |
Lucy Craft Laney (born April 13, 1854 – died October 23, 1933) was an important American teacher. In 1883, she started the very first school for Black children in Augusta, Georgia. For 50 years, she was the principal of the Haines Institute for Industrial and Normal Education.
Later, in 1974, she was honored by Governor Jimmy Carter. Her picture was placed in the Georgia State Capitol, making her one of the first African Americans to receive this honor. She was also recognized by the Georgia Women of Achievement.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Lucy Craft Laney was born free on April 13, 1854, in Macon, Georgia. This was 11 years before slavery ended in the United States. She was the seventh of ten children. Her parents, Louisa and David Laney, were free people who had once been enslaved. Her father had saved enough money to buy his own freedom and his wife's freedom.
Both of Lucy's parents believed strongly in education. They were also very kind and helpful to others. These values greatly influenced Lucy throughout her life.
When Lucy was born, it was against the law in Georgia for Black people to learn to read. But with help from Ms. Campbell, her parents' former enslaver's sister, Lucy learned to read at age four. She kept studying and went to Lewis (later Ballard) High School in Macon, Georgia. This was a special school run by the American Missionary Association.
In 1869, she joined the first class at Atlanta University. There, she trained to become a teacher. She finished the teacher training program in 1873.
Starting a School
Laney worked as a teacher in Macon, Milledgeville, and Savannah, Georgia for ten years. Then, she decided to open her own school.
She moved to Augusta, Georgia, and in 1883, she started the city's first school for Black children. Her first class had only six students. But Lucy quickly gained interest from the African-American community. By the end of the second year, her school had 234 students!
With so many students, she needed more money to run her school. In 1886, she went to a meeting of the northern Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She asked for help, but was first turned down. However, a woman named Francine E. H. Haines later became interested. She donated $10,000 to Lucy for the school.
With this money, Lucy Laney made her school bigger. She changed its name to The Haines Normal and Industrial Institute. This name honored her helper and showed that the school taught both industrial skills and teacher training. The school eventually grew to cover an entire city block. By 1928, it had more than 800 students. This was at a time when public schools were still separated by race.
Haines Normal and Industrial Institute
The Haines Normal and Industrial Institute was a school for African Americans in Augusta, Georgia. Lucy Craft Laney started it. It was named after Francine E. H. Haines, who gave money for the school to grow. A historical marker was placed at the school site in 2009. This school later became Lucy Craft Laney High School.
Lucy Laney opened the school with a few students in 1883. She was the school's principal. The school officially became a chartered organization in 1886. It grew to include a kindergarten and a junior college (Lamar School of Nursing). By 1928, it had more than 800 students. The school was also an important community center.
Photographs of the school were collected by W.E.B. Du Bois and Thomas J. Calloway. These photos were shown at the Paris Exposition of 1900.
Working for Civil Rights
While living in Augusta, Lucy Laney joined the Niagara Movement. This group was founded in 1905 to fight for civil rights. Later, in 1918, she helped start the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The NAACP is a well-known civil rights organization.
She also worked with other groups to help Black people and Black women. These included the Interracial Commission and the National Association of Colored Women. She also helped bring together the community work done by the YMCA and YWCA. At that time, these organizations had separate groups for white and Black people.
Honors and Recognition
In 1974, Governor Jimmy Carter arranged for the first portraits of African Americans to be hung in the Georgia State Capitol. This was to honor their important contributions. Lucy Craft Laney was one of these people. The others were the Reverend Henry McNeal Turner and the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1992, Lucy Laney was honored by being inducted into "Georgia Women of Achievement."
Later Life and Legacy
Lucy Laney passed away on October 23, 1933. She is buried at the corner of Laney Walker Boulevard and Phillips Street. This is the same place where she first started the Haines Normal and Industrial Institute.
The land where Lucy was buried was later used to build the Lucy Craft Laney Comprehensive High School. This school was named in her honor. Her grave and memorial are still there and have not been moved.
Other schools named after her include:
- Lucy Laney Elementary School in Harris County, Georgia
- Lucy Craft Laney Community School in North Minneapolis, Minnesota, which serves students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade.
