The Farish Street Historic District in Jackson, Mississippi, is one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in the city. When Jackson State University, then known as Jackson College, first moved to the city from Natchez, Mississippi, in 1883, its temporary home until 1885 was the basement of Mt. Helm Missionary Baptist Church on Lamar Street in the District. The Farish Street Historic District Oral History Collection preserves the memories of former residents and business owners through interviews and photographs documenting the district's structures and community events. This curated selection of items from the collection focuses on the Smith Robertson School, which was built in 1894 to educate Black children and operated until 1971 when Mississippi finally desegregated its public schools. In 1984, the school reopened as a museum and is now known as Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. The museum hosts a wide variety of events as well as several permanent and traveling exhibits.
Verna Anderson began teaching 2nd grade at Smith Robertson School in 1936 and worked there until the school’s closing in 1971. She discusses her experiences as a teacher and the factors that caused the school to close in 1971 as well as actions taken to preserve the school in the present.
Ruby Dawson was born in Jackson in 1904 and attended Smith Robertson School until the 4th grade before attending Tougaloo College in Jackson. In 1928 she returned to Smith Robertson as a teacher. In the interview, she talks about her time as both a student and teacher. The transcript is edited with handwritten notes.
A photograph of Rosie Holden of the National Council of Negro Women and Woman Power Unlimited at the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
Rahman Saleem was a student at Smith Robertson School starting in 1956 when he was 5 years old. He talks about his experience at the school and tells other stories of his childhood in Jackson. The transcript is heavily edited with handwritten notes.
Minnie Farish was born on Farish Street and lived her life there. Ms. Farish talks about her childhood on Farish Street and her time at Smith Robertson School and Lanier High School. She recounts the homes and businesses on Farish Street and talks extensively about her family. She also talks about what it was like living in the Jim Crow Era.
Mabel E. Howard was born in the Farish Street District in 1911 and worked at several businesses in the district. She talks about her time living in the district, the schools she attended, and being baptized at Christ Temple Church, and her favorite places to eat in the district. The transcript is edited with handwritten and typed notes.
Ms. Weakley was born in the Farish Street District in the 1920’s after her parents moved there following World War I. She talks about her childhood in the district and recounts what life was like for people there. She discusses some of the businesses, including doctors and lawyers. She also talks about her education at the Smith Robertson School.
A photograph of Lillie Bell James, Mayor Dale Danks (1977-1989), Jr., and Elbert Hilliard at the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
Leroy Smith was born in Jackson in 1918 and lived in Jackson his entire life. He attended Smith Robertson School until 6th grade and talks about his time there. He discusses the nightlife in the district beginning in the 1930s, including a number of restaurants, ballrooms, limited options to watch movies, and the red light district.
Lee Williams was born in 1900, moved to the Farish Street District in 1915, and lived on various streets for the rest of his life. He attended Smith Robertson School. In the interview, Mr. Williams recounts the different businesses, people, and schools over the years in the district. The transcript contains handwritten edits.
Ms. Young worked at Smith Robertson School as a teacher and secretary for the principal from 1951 until the school’s closing in 1971. She talks about her time at the Smith Robertson School as a secretary and teacher and discusses how the property around the school had a negative effect on it.
Josephine Tibbs was born in Jackson and moved to the Farish Street District in 1910. Mrs. Tibbs talks about her early school days at Smith Robertson School and her religious activities. She also talks about some of the businesses in the district and some of the Black doctors who practiced on Farish Street.
Gwendolyn Hampton was born in the Farish Street District in 1953 and attended several schools in the area, including Smith Robertson School. Mrs. Hampton reflects on changes in many areas in the district, including the disciplining of neighborhood children and the attitude of "country folk" who came to Farish Street to shop.
Esther Solomon Howard was born in the Farish Street District in 1915. Ms. Howard talks about her childhood in the Farish Street District, including attending Smith Robertson School, Central Church, and the Young Women’s Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.). She also talks extensively about her husband. The transcript is edited with handwritten notes.
Ernest Luckett moved to the Farish Street District in 1922 at the age of 6 to attend Smith Robertson School. Mr. Luckett talks about his time as a student at the school and his admiration of a teacher. He discusses his relationship with P.G. Cooper, a lawyer on Farish Street who collected rent from tenants in the area for one of his clients.
Dr. W.E. Miller was a physician and surgeon. He was born in 1903 and attended Smith Robertson School from 1908-1913. Dr. Miller talks about his time at Smith Robertson School and the community around the school, recounting the activities that were available for young people at the time. The transcript is edited with handwritten notes.
Dr. Lee Williams was a homeowner in the Farish Street District from 1924-1954 and worked as Vice President of Administration at Jackson State University. He talks about his time as a student at Smith Robertson School and Lanier high School. He discusses the effects of segregation on the district and also the current efforts to revitalize the area.
A copy of a photograph of Dr. Jessie Bryant Mosley, Dr. Alferdteen Harrison, and Mayor Dale Danks, Jr. at the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
Carolyn Cannon Lindsey attended Smith Robertson School as an elementary student beginning in 1952. At the school she completed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades. She discusses the segregation of schools during that time. She also recalls some of her teachers and fondest memories of her time as a student there.
Two photographs of brochures for the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
A photograph of a billboard advertising the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
A copy of a photograph of an unknown woman, Dr. Alferdteen Harrison, and Dr. Cora Norman at the Smith Robertson Neighborhood Folklife Festival, April 9-11, 1983. The festival was a one-time grant sponsored event held on the grounds of the Smith Robertson Museum to celebrate the rich history and culture of the Farish Street Historic District.
Ada L. Wilson moved to the Farish Street District in 1945 after graduating college and went on to work as a teacher in Jackson Public Schools and Jackson State. She discusses Wilson's Grocery Store, her family’s business in the district. She also talks about her efforts to stop the city from demolishing Smith Robertson School after its closing.
A.N. Jackson moved to Jackson, MS in the 1920s as a teenager. He discusses his grandparents and their lives as slaves; his grandfather fought for the Union Army in the Civil War. He also talks about his teaching career which encompassed the Jackson schools Lanier High School and Smith Robertson School, where he became principal in 1950.
