African American education developed exponentially through the work of Rosenwald Schools. This desk in our museum collection is one of 10 from the Hope School in Pomaria, South Carolina, a historic Rosenwald school. In 1910, educator and statesman Booker T. Washington, formed an independent foundation to design and manage school programs for African Americans. In 1912, Washington partnered with philanthropist Julius Rosenwald (after which they were named), to fund the schools. The CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Company, Rosenwald contributed millions of dollars in matched donations from rural Black Americans to establish schools in the farm areas surrounding their homes. Rosenwald and Washington erected more than 5,300 Black schools in 15 states. With Black communities providing cash for property and buildings, local school boards cooperated in managing the facilities. In 1932, an estimated 27%of all Black children were being educated in a Rosenwald school. A 2011 study by two Federal Reserve economists found that children with access to a Rosenwald school advanced more than a year ahead of other students, and that the Rosenwald schools were a huge factor in equalizing the educational levels of Black and White students in the South. Explore the 3D desk digitized by @smithsonian3d and learn more in our “Making a Way Out of No Way” exhibition in our Searchable Museum at the link in our bio. 📸 Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Hope School Community Center, Pomaria, SC