Today in Wheeling History: July 12 -- Dr. Martha Lash and Monica Ratcliffe conducted an oral history interview with Miss Eileen Miller, an 87-year-old African American educator known for her 40-year teaching career spanning segregation and desegregation in Wheeling, West Virginia, including her roles at Lincoln School and Warwood School, her dedication to student success, and her status as the last living teacher from the historic Lincoln School, in her home on National Road in Wheeling (Fulton), West Virginia (2008).
Eileen Miller (1921-2010) was an African American educator who taught in Wheeling and Warwood, West Virginia before, during, and after school desegregation following Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Born in Wheeling in 1921, Miller attended the segregated Lincoln School for her primary and secondary education, graduating in 1938. She then attended West Virginia State College, a historically black institution, graduating in 1942.
Miller began her teaching career at Lincoln School in 1943 as a substitute for a soldier who had gone to war. She lost this position when he returned but was later hired back to replace one of her favorite elementary teachers who was retiring. At Lincoln, she taught various grades and subjects, including 5th grade and math.
After the 1954 Brown decision, Miller was placed at Warwood School in 1955, where she taught until her retirement in 1983. At Warwood, she taught English, math, and social studies to junior high and high school students. She had to take two buses each way to get to Warwood, except when given rides by the Farris sisters, who were also Warwood teachers.
Miller faced some challenges at Warwood, including having to adapt her teaching methods for children of immigrants, which was different from her experience at Lincoln. She also dealt with some prejudice, notably from one female teacher who initially ignored her. However, Miller was generally welcomed by the Warwood faculty, with teachers like Virginia Lynch opening their arms to her.
Throughout her career, Miller was known for her dedication to teaching. She often stayed late grading papers and also taught adult education classes in the evenings to help students obtain their GEDs. Miller didn't start driving until she was 50 years old, relying on public transportation for most of her career.
In addition to her regular teaching duties, Miller was involved in various educational initiatives. She participated in a project where students brought recipes from different nationalities to create a diverse recipe tree, reflecting the varied backgrounds of students at Warwood.
Miller was honored as the last living teacher from Lincoln School and participated in an oral history interview about her experiences in 2008 at the age of 87. In this interview, conducted by Dr. Martha Lash and Monica Ratcliffe Cooper, she shared many stories from her long teaching career, including her experiences during desegregation and her teaching philosophy.
To learn more:
(https://tinyurl.com/2sekaj95) (https://tinyurl.com/29mvyf8f) (https://tinyurl.com/yymyn8pz) (https://tinyurl.com/3duh2r99) (https://bit.ly/3Gckx04)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
Eileen Miller (1921-2010) was an African American educator who taught in Wheeling and Warwood, West Virginia before, during, and after school desegregation following Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Born in Wheeling in 1921, Miller attended the segregated Lincoln School for her primary and secondary education, graduating in 1938. She then attended West Virginia State College, a historically black institution, graduating in 1942.
Miller began her teaching career at Lincoln School in 1943 as a substitute for a soldier who had gone to war. She lost this position when he returned but was later hired back to replace one of her favorite elementary teachers who was retiring. At Lincoln, she taught various grades and subjects, including 5th grade and math.
After the 1954 Brown decision, Miller was placed at Warwood School in 1955, where she taught until her retirement in 1983. At Warwood, she taught English, math, and social studies to junior high and high school students. She had to take two buses each way to get to Warwood, except when given rides by the Farris sisters, who were also Warwood teachers.
Miller faced some challenges at Warwood, including having to adapt her teaching methods for children of immigrants, which was different from her experience at Lincoln. She also dealt with some prejudice, notably from one female teacher who initially ignored her. However, Miller was generally welcomed by the Warwood faculty, with teachers like Virginia Lynch opening their arms to her.
Throughout her career, Miller was known for her dedication to teaching. She often stayed late grading papers and also taught adult education classes in the evenings to help students obtain their GEDs. Miller didn't start driving until she was 50 years old, relying on public transportation for most of her career.
In addition to her regular teaching duties, Miller was involved in various educational initiatives. She participated in a project where students brought recipes from different nationalities to create a diverse recipe tree, reflecting the varied backgrounds of students at Warwood.
Miller was honored as the last living teacher from Lincoln School and participated in an oral history interview about her experiences in 2008 at the age of 87. In this interview, conducted by Dr. Martha Lash and Monica Ratcliffe Cooper, she shared many stories from her long teaching career, including her experiences during desegregation and her teaching philosophy.
To learn more:
(https://tinyurl.com/2sekaj95) (https://tinyurl.com/29mvyf8f) (https://tinyurl.com/yymyn8pz) (https://tinyurl.com/3duh2r99) (https://bit.ly/3Gckx04)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV
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