Armstrong Manual Training School yearbook

Object Details

Names: Public Schools of the District of Columbia
Collection Photographer: Apeda Studio (New York, N.Y.); Camuzzi, M.; Harris & Ewing
Collection Creator: Sommariva, Emilio, Photographer, 1883-1956; Harris, Fred (photographer); Scurlock Studio (Washington, D.C.)

See more items in: Evans-Tibbs Collection; Evans-Tibbs Collection / Series 1: Lillian Evans Tibbs papers / 1.1: Biographical Materials / Wilson Bruce Evans--Armstrong Manual Training School

Biographical / Historical: Armstrong Manual Training School, built in 1902, was authorized by congress as a vocational high school for African American youth in Washington, DC. The school was named for Samuel C. Armstrong (1839-1893), a white commander of an African American Civil War regiment and founder of Hampton Institute, now University. Designed by local architect Waddy B. Wood, the Renaissance Revival building provided carpentry, machine, foundry, and blacksmith workshops. In addition, the school taught chemistry and physics. Dr. Wilson Bruce Evans, the father of performing artist Lillian Evans Tibbs, served as founding principal. Duke Ellington, William "Billy"Eckstein, and John Malachi are among a host of Armstrong graduates who became prominent in their profession. In 1996 the school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the District of Columbia.

Collection Citation: Evans-Tibbs collection, Anacostia Community Museum,Smithsonian Institution, gift Thurlow E. Tibbs, Jr. Estate

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