PERIOD 1943-1954

The war had a definite effect on the activities of the school and it’s development. The problem of securing qualified teachers was indeed a serious one. During this period, the turnover in faculty personnel was greater than ever in the history of the school. Two teachers were called to military service and several others resigned to take higher paying positions in other school systems or defense plants. Despite this handicap, our activities continued with little interruption. The annual fashion show was postponed because of wartime restrictions, so the home economics department sponsored the May Day Health Contest instead. The school participated in all war campaigns, such as Defense Stamp buying, purchasing bonds, and collecting scrap iron and tin. The band played and paraded in some of the war campaigns. Another activity that became very popular during this period was the Football Queen Contest. This contest was conducted for the purpose of supplementing the Athletic and the General School Funds. These contests had a positive effect in developing school spirit and creating a general community interest in the school’s activities. The idea of a football queen originated in 1936 from a suggestion by Mr. C. A. Orton, a faculty member at the time. The first Rosenwald Football Queen was Ollie Horton, who was chosen on the basis of the amount of money raised by her class. This method of choosing queens continued until 1950, when it was changed to election by popular vote. Representatives in the popular vote contest could be 11th and 12th grades girls only. During this period, our school enrollment and graduating classes increased greatly.  This increase was due largely to the provision made by the County board of Education for the transportation of county high school students to and from Rosenwald School. Also, there was an increase in the population in the city of Harlan, due to the demand of war works.

The music/band program was discontinued due to inability to secure a band director. This was the only activity discontinued during this period. Our athletic teams continued on a limited basis throughout the war years, and their share of success was evident. The photography club was organized in 1939 under the direction of Mr. J. B. Clemens. The club learned to develop and enlarge pictures, as well as to take photographs. This club gave a number of successful performances. One at the Junior High School in Harlan, and another at the Loyall High School. The Dramatics Club was successful in the presentation of many plays throughout the years. The Y-Teen Club always participated in the Annual Potato Chip Sale. Proceeds from those sales were used to sponsor two girls at summer camp as representatives of Rosenwald Y-Teen Club. The boys Hi-Y Club. The construction of the Rosenwald High School building was completed. There were four rooms on the first floor. Three of them were used as classrooms and the fourth was the library/study hall. This expansion also provided space for typing classes. The building received an “A” rating from the Kentucky Department of Public Instruction. It was necessary to move the homemaking equipment from one side of the basement of the frame building to the other side, necessitating the installation of plumbing and electric power with two partitions. Ten new Royal typewriters and typing tables were purchased for our typing classes. The PTA donated a kitchen sink to the food room. The board of Education purchased several books for the library, including a new set of the World Book Encyclopedia. A set of Modern Social Study maps were purchased and several film strips. On behalf of the PTA, stage curtains were installed. The Rosenwald Alumni Association donated an electric scoreboard clock for the basketball games. In February 1952, the district basketball tournament was held in the Rosenwald gymnasium for the first time. The Red Devils were runners in the district that year. The PTA was a vital and active body during this time. They purchased a school bus for the transportation of the county school students, and a piano for the school. During 1949-1950, the PTA concentrated on the activity of organizing a school band. Rosenwald sent representatives to the State Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers in Stanford, Kentucky, during this period. One such representative, Mr. William Woods, was elected Vice President of the Congress. Another major accomplishment by the PTA was the success of the Birthday Calendar project. This successful project provided funding for three delegates to the State Congress of Colored Parents & Teachers in the state of Delaware. Mrs. Addie Hollingsworth, a Rosenwald graduate, was PTA president at this time. The band committee was organized and took care of concessions at all football games from the time of its inception. Mr. William Woods was elected president of the State Congress for the year 1954-1955. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY: Doris Jean Haynes, Editor in chief of Staff Alice Gregory ,Lula Mae Tentman, Erlene Bradley, Dora Ella Allen.