The Eleanor Roosevelt School National Historic Site

01/07/2026

https://thecitizen.com/2025/12/19/senoia-area-historical-society-to-host-program-on-historic-rosenwald-schoolsand-local-preservation-efforts/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAOyOvdjbGNrA7I6wWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHltxmglGgW3qUZMpJgPXUH_asq31XTCtpJCw7SLlt6i5Or_A0QAvpaz0AeyT_aem_CBpXcG-ylcVmr3LBM9X3fQ

Debron Walker to Present on the Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs and the Legacy of an American Education Revolution SENOIA, GA – The Senoia Area His ...

11/22/2025

I am the Eleanor Roosevelt School, the last Rosenwald School ever built. In 1937, I opened my doors to African American children in Warm Springs, offering hope and opportunity. Over time, I faded until the Georgia Trust stepped in to save me.

Thanks to the Trust's Revolving Fund and a major grant, I'm being restored to life. Soon, I'll once again welcome the community and share my story of resilience.

But I am just one of many places across Georgia - from dirt roads to downtowns - that deserve to be preserved. Your support keeps these historic landmarks alive for future generations. As the year comes to a close, please make a year-end gift to the Georgia Trust today. https://www.georgiatrust.org/product/year-end-giving/

Because of you, Georgia's history endures.
https://mailchi.mp/georgiatrust/annualappeal2025letter

09/10/2025

First Lady 🌹

It's National Dog Day! Did you know that the Roosevelts' dog, Fala, was a celebrity?

Fala was often photographed with President Roosevelt and became so well known to the American people that he received thousands of letters during FDR's presidency. He was also the subject of two MGM newsreels and a book called "The True Story of Fala."

After FDR's death, he went to live a quieter life at Val-Kill with Eleanor. But he continued to be loved and remembered by the American people, as this excerpt from August 14, 1945's "My Day" column shows:

"NEW YORK, Monday—It has always amused me how much Fala has really become a personality in this country! I had been looking for a carrier in which to take him on the train to New York, and I was told I would find one at a certain establishment in Manhattan. There, the man at once said to me: "Is this for Fala?" I explained that Fala was accustomed to rather luxurious train travel, having always been entirely free to roam in my husband's private car, and that I was looking for something that would not frighten him. The man very kindly explained to me that if I put Fala in backwards he would not be as frightened as he would if I forced his head in first. I really think it would be simpler if I sat with him in the baggage car, but then I might not be a welcome passenger!"



Image - Eleanor Roosevelt walking Fala on a leash.

08/22/2025

Greetings from the The Eleanor Roosevelt School National Historic Site Team! ❤️

08/20/2025

💐

Did you know First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped provide jobs in conservation and forestry to women during the Great Depression?

The She-She-She Camps were organized by Eleanor Roosevelt in the US in response to the formation of the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) programs designed for unemployed men. ER found that the men-only focus of the CCC program left out young women who were willing to work in conservation and forestry and to sign up for the 6-month programs living away from family and close support. She lobbied for a sister organization to the CCC that would be for young women. Eleanor Roosevelt proposed that this would consist of camps for jobless women and residential worker schools. The She-She-She camps were funded by presidential order in 1933, and unlike the segregated CCC camps, were integrated. Labor Secretary and Cabinet Member Frances Perkins championed one such camp after ER held a White House Conference for Unemployed Women on April 30, 1934, and subsequently Roosevelt's concept of a nationwide jobless women's camp was achieved. While the public largely supported the New Deal programs and the CCC was a huge success, the women's version barely topped 5,000 women annually by 1936 and overall served 8,500.

Camp TERA began on June 10, 1933 with 17 young women from New York. Currently Bear Mountain State Park, NY, in 1934 the site had 12 camps for CCC enrollees. At the end of 1933, after Camp Tera was established, ER had stated, "There is nothing more exciting than building a new social order." When ER first visited Camp TERA, she found only 30 girls at the 200-acre camp. ER appreciated the camp, but decided the requirements were too strict. She could not believe there were not enough women willing to accept the job and warned that the numbers had to increase, or the idea might be abandoned.

It was at Camp TERA that ER first met Civil Rights, feminist, and LGBTQ pioneer Pauli Murray who was among the first enrollees there. Murray said, “The camp was ideal for building up run-down bodies and renewing jaded spirits”. The two would strike up a friendship that would last nearly a quarter of a century.

The offer of work was enticing to those who did not want to pass up the chance of a job and with glowing reports coming back from participants the proponents of She-She-She renewed efforts in the fall of 1933 to expand the program. Going against this was that in the 1930s many Americans objected to the use of public resources to support individuals, especially women. Most had a more traditional view that the role of the woman was in the home. Others considered the idea of putting women out in the woods to learn dubious skills just plain wrong.

The She-She-She camps for women closed in October of 1937. The NYA (National Youth Administration, then in charge of the program, criticized the objectives and necessity of the camps and decided it was too expensive. As the crisis of hunger and shelter eased, the camp program for women could not be justified and it ended.

08/07/2025

Saving the Eleanor Roosevelt School: A Conversation with Preservationist Voncher Walker

Say It With History: Conversations That Shaped The Past with Holley Snaith!

Check out the episode on spotify…Like, Rate & Share!!

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ExfaZ1eDMq8qIrClOLfJw

Historic preservation is more than saving buildings—it’s about honoring stories, communities, and the legacies that shaped who we are.

This episode is a tribute to resilience, community, and the power of preserving our shared history. Voncher Walker is an entrepreneur and investor who, along with her brother Debron Walker, purchased the historic Eleanor Roosevelt School in Warm Springs, Georgia in 2020.

We delve into the inspiring story of the Eleanor Roosevelt School—the last of the Rosenwald Schools, born from a visionary partnership between philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and educator Booker T. Washington.

Located in Warm Springs, Georgia, this historic institution was built with the support of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the local community. We explore its origins, its impact, and the remarkable efforts of Voncher and her brother Debron, who are working tirelessly to preserve this vital piece of Black history.

You’ll hear about the challenges they’ve faced, the rich legacy of the Rosenwald School movement, and the enduring influence of Eleanor Roosevelt’s advocacy for human rights and education.

This National Registry landmark is one of the original Rosenwald Schools built with funding from the Julius Rosenwald Fund and personal contributions from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the owner of The Eleanor Roosevelt School, Walker is transforming the 1936 school into a museum, event space, and educational tourism destination while preserving its legacy as part of the network that educated over 660,000 Black children across the South.

Say It With History: Conversations That Shaped The Past with Holley Snaith · Episode

08/07/2025

🌟 You're Invited! 🌟
Join us for the Open House Event at the Historic Eleanor Roosevelt School — a landmark of legacy, learning, and leadership.

🗓 Date: August 21, 2025
🕙 Time: 10 AM – 2 PM
📍 Location: 590 Parham St, Warm Springs, GA 31830
(Formerly 350 Parham St)
🔗 www.ERSO1936.com

In partnership with The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, this Open House is a chance to witness history in the making.

👀 Schedule Highlights:
▪️ 10AM–12PM — Open to the Public
▪️ 12:30PM–1:30PM — Meet the Owners, Q&A + Private Tour

Come experience the powerful story behind this Rosenwald School and learn how we’re transforming it into a center for community, education, and vocational opportunity.

🎯 For educators, local leaders, grantmakers, and anyone passionate about history and progress — this is your moment to connect.

📩 RSVP today: [email protected]

Special thanks to Garbutt Construction Company for sponsoring this vision.

05/24/2025

01/01/2025

"Happy New Year from all of us at the Eleanor Roosevelt School! 🎉 As we step into twenty twenty-five, we’re filled with gratitude for your support and excitement for the incredible milestones ahead. Together, we’re building a brighter future through education, community, and legacy. Let’s make this year one for the history books! Cheers to growth, progress, and new opportunities. "

10/31/2024

10/11/2024

Happy Birthday to Eleanor Roosevelt ♥️