The Virginia Interscholastic Association was an educational and extracurricular organization formed in 1954 by African American secondary school principals and administrators to provide African American high school students in Virginia with athletic, artistic, academic, and leadership opportunities unavailable to them in segregated schools. From April 1954 to August 1969, over 100 schools participated with the VIA and approximately 40,000 students became members of the organization. Once defunded, the VIA merged with the Virginia High School League (VHSL). The distinguished alumni of the VIA include Mary Winston Jackson, one of the three women featured in the book Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly and the film of the same title, tennis champion Arthur Ashe, and basketball’s Bobby Dandridge. The VIA served schools that were seen as a "beacon of hope" by many students.

History

Formation During a summer conference at Hampton University in 1952, high school principals in Virginia discussed the lack of funding in African American high schools and proposed an organization that would coordinate statewide activities for African American high school students. On April 20, 1954, the VIA was established with the help of a group of African American high school principals in Virginia, Virginia State University, the Department of Education, and the General Assembly of Virginia which funded staff training for teachers and coaches at the request of Virginia State University.

Administration The VIA’s Executive Committee “administered activities, schedules, conferences, competitions and appointments. This body consisted of ‘(a) the three groups of member schools; (b) two representatives from the State Department of Education; (c) one member representing Virginia State College; (d) one junior high school representative (Womble).’” A guidance counselor was made available to VIA members to assist them with their socioemotional and academic needs. The coordinated efforts of Virginia State University staff, teachers, coaches, the Department of Education and parents can be attributed with the success of the VIA.

Hall of Fame Each year the VIA Heritage Association inducts members to the hall of fame. In 2016, Olympic gold medalist Benita Fitzgerald Mosley was selected. In 2022, seven members were inducted.

Archives In May 2023, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss made a donation to Teaching for Change to digitize the archives at Virginia State University.

Programs The VIA organized and administered academics, associations, arts, and athletics programs for its student members.

Academics African American high school students participated in academic competitions in mathematics and science, specifically algebra, chemistry, physics, and biology. Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Hampton, and St. Paul’s College rotated hosting these academic competitions where students completed tests and quizzes. Students had to qualify for these competitions through an often rigorous process.

Associations The VIA also granted African American high school students leadership opportunities with Student Council, National Honor Society, and Student Participation Association. These leadership associations carved space for VIA members to learn and hone their leadership skills in a time of oppression and discrimination.

Arts In addition to academic and leadership opportunities, the VIA dedicated many of its resources to its arts and athletics programs. VIA members participated and performed in choir, music, and drama competitions and festivals at Virginia State University. Thousands of spectators attended these events where students were judged and awarded for their performances. Member schools often hosted theatrical performances as well.

Athletics Through its network of member schools, the VIA created opportunities for African American high school students to compete in football, basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, and track and field. Through its partnerships with Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Hampton, and St. Paul’s College, the VIA helped African American high school students compete at the collegiate level. Collis P. Huntington High School, for example, won sixteen Virginia Interscholastic Association eastern District titles and seven VIA state championships under coach Thad Madden from 1943 through 1971. Some of the most accomplished athletes in Virginia were members of the VIA. Renowned American tennis player Arthur Ashe (Maggie L. Walker High School) was a member of the VIA.

Member Schools City or Town School Principal Coach GroupBlairsSouthsideW.S. TurnerJames EarleyGroup 1CharlottesvilleJackson BurleyE.G. MobleyRobert S. SmithGroup 1ClarksvilleWest EndMrs. D.J. HarrisLewis MardhallGroup 1DanvilleJohn M. LangstonJohn Byrd, Jr.Howard AllenGroup 1HalifaxHalifax County Trg.W.C. EdwardsC. H. CageGroup 1HamptonGeorge P. PhenixG.W. StevensonS.A. BookerGroup 1LawrencevilleJames Solomon russellH.L. GilesD. F. ThompsonGroup 1LynchburgDunbarC.W. SeayHarry WatersGroup 1NorfolkBooker T. WashingtonWinston DouglasJ. ChristianGroup 1NorfolkCrestwoodC.A. WoodR.M. AndrewsGroup 1Newport NewsHuntingtonW.D. ScalesF.L. TravisGroup 1PetersburgPeabodyClyde S. ScottJ.S. BurtonGroup 1PortsmouthI.C. NorcomW.E. WatersR.T. SmithGroup 1RapidanGeorge W. Carver Reg.H.S. FleshmonUNKNOWNGroup 1RichmondArmstrongG. Peterson, Jr.M.C. RobinsonGroup 1RichmondMaggie L. WalkerG.W. LiverpoolA.L. GardnerGroup 1RoanokeLucy AddisonE.L. PhillipsC.L. PriceGroup 1Rock CastleSt. Emma Military Acad.Rev. A.O’RourkeW. Clark, Sr.Group 1SuffolkEast SuffolkW.L. TurnerB.L. DavisGroup 1WarwickGeorge W. CarverHomer HinesW.I. TravisGroup 1AccomacMary N. SmithF.L. JoynesJ.H. ParsonsGroup 2AlexandriaParker-GrayW.H. PittsLouis JohnsonGroup 2AmeliaRussell GroveW.M. GreenA.L. SaundersGroup 2ArlingtonHoffman-BostonG.M. RichardsonR.J. GriffinGroup 2AshlandJohn M. GandyMrs. E.D. bundyG.W. QuarlesGroup 2BedfordSussie GibsonJ.I. JonesPeyton OteyGroup 2BeverlyvilleJulius RosenwaldJ.A. BennettUNKNOWNGroup 2Bowling GreenUnionG.B. RuffinA.E. LoveGroup 2CambriaChristiansburg Inst.J.F. BanksT.R. SeaseGroup 2CharlotteCentralG.H. BinfordL.S. OxendineGroup 2ChesterCarverW.A. BrownB.Hayes, Jr.Group 2CourtlandSouthampton Co. Trg.C.W. WombleCohen CosbyGroup 2DendronL.P. JacksonB.T. PotentUNKNOWNGroup 2DillwynCarter G. WoodsonG.F. HarrisA.D. WilsonGroup 2DinwiddieSouthsideR.W. WatsonW.H. MorganGroup 2DisputantaDisputanta TrainingW.H. GillardG.J. HayesGroup 2EmporiaEdward W. WyattF.H. SmithW.C. WashingtonGroup 2FarmvilleRobert R. MotonS.F. GriffinW.H. TrumanGroup 2FieldaleGeorge W. CarverN.E. JohnsonReginald LeoGroup 2FranklinHaydenS.P. MortonLeon ArmsteadGroup 2FredericksburgWalker-GrantJ.G. JohnsonP.H. GunningGroup 2Glen AllenVirginia RandoplhU.C. OliverM.L. GloverGroup 2GretnaNorthsideAlbert G. TippittB.L. DixGroup 2LouisaA.G. RichardsonR.E. PhanelsonC.L. ConyorsGroup 2MachipongoNorthampton CountyW.H. SmithB.E. MossGroup 2ManassasManassas RegionalC.N. BennettP.W. EllisGroup 2MartinsvilleAlbert HarrisJ.E. TurnerR.M. ColeGroup 2MerrifieldLuther P. JacksonT.M. WilliamsG.W. FeltonGroup 2NorfolkPrincess Anne Co. Trg.J.V. BoykinJudge GossGroup 2NottowayL.H. FosterJ.B. WoodsonD.L. MaynardGroup 2PortsmouthOur Lady of VictoryA.F. PereiraUNKNOWNGroup 2RoanesThomas C. WalkerH.E. JohnsonW.J. WhiteheadGroup 2Rocky MountFranklin Co. Trg.C.L. AtkinsS.M. HawkinsGroup 2RustburgCambell CountyO.J. Duncan, Jr.H.F. PettifordGroup 2RuthvilleRuthvilleE.E. ScottE.E. ScottGroup 2SalemCarverC.D. HarmonI. CannadayGroup 2ShipmanNelson County Trg.R.M. ThompsonUNKNOWNGroup 2SnellJohn J. WrightA.L. ScottM. MorbreyGroup 2SmithfieldIsle of Wight Trg.C.M. GillisM. LawGroup 2South HillEast EndE.N. TaliaforroO.L. Sherill, Jr.Group 2South NorfolkGeorge W. CarverC.S. BrabbleP.E. ParhamGroup 2SuffolkBooker T. WashingtonJ.F. Peele, Jr.L. DunovantGroup 2TemplemanA.T. JohnsonL.A. RichardsonJ.A. ThompkinsGroup 2VitoriaLunenburgK.P. EvansC.M. JonesGroup 2WarrentonWilliam C. TaylorC.P. hazzardC.I. CraigGroup 2WaverlySussex Co. Trg.J.I. BridgersC.D. JacksonGroup 2WilliamsburgBruton HeightsD.J. MontagueRuell BlairGroup 2AppomattoxCarver-PriceRichard PatrickN.H. MillerGroup 3BarryvilleJohnson-WilliamsL.D. HardingL.D. HardingGroup 3BluefieldTazewell CountyJ.A. HubbardE.R. ColemanGroup 3Clifton ForgeJeffersonW.C. HillUNKNOWNGroup 3CovingtonWatsonC.G. BrownUNKNOWNGroup 3CumberlandLuther P. JacksonJ.B. PervellUNKNOWNGroup 3Edge HillRalphe BuncheL.C. BlandT.R. ButlerGroup 3HarrisonburgLucy F. SimmsA.M. StittB.M. HintonGroup 3KollandNasemond CountyH.E. HowellE.C. RichardsGroup 3HopewellCarter G. WoodsonB.F. EppsR.J. HaynesGroup 3IrwinCentralC.A. PenningtonM.N. LewisGroup 3King and QueenKing and Queen CentralG.W. RobinsonB.D. JonesGroup 3King WilliamHamilton-HolmesS.D. WomackH.A. TownesGroup 3LeesburgDouglasS.M. SydnowUNKNOWNGroup 3LexingtonLylburn DowningU.B. BroadneauxG.C. SingfieldGroup 3LurayAndrew Jackson, Jr.S.H. DodsonKirk N. GaskinGroup 3MathewsThomas HunterJ.M. BrooksA.R. CooleyGroup 3NortonSouthsideG.N. CarrUNKNOWNGroup 3PalmyraS.C. AbramsW.E. FriendE.L. EdwardsGroup 3PowhatanPochontasG.W. RansomeE. FinneyGroup 3QuintonG.W. WatkinsG.W. WatkinsUNKNOWNGroup 3StauntonBooker T. WashingtonA.R. WareJ.D. HicksGroup 3StormontSt. Clare WalkerC.I. ThurstonJ.D. MadisonGroup 3StuartPatrick CentralP.H. Stone. Jr.S.L. LesterGroup 3TapahannockEssex CountyP.B. ParksF.P. HolmesGroup 3WarsawRichmond CountyW.H. MackeyR.P. YoungGroup 3WaynesboroRosenwaldE.G. WoodK. BookerGroup 3White StoneA.T. WrightP.G. LewisUNKNOWNGroup 3WinchesterDouglasK.N. GaskinsE.K. BarksdaleGroup 3YorktownJames Weldon JohnsonR.L. RiceW.M. WallaceGroup 3

References

External links

George P. Phenix High School. A Place of Kinship: Carver High School Nurtured African American Students