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[[image - drawing of scene from nursery school]]

HISTORY OF THE NICHOLS AVENUE NURSERY SCHOOL

Since its beginning in 1945, the Nichols Avenue Nursery School has been a potent factor in helping mold the lives of pre-school children. Established as a result of the Lanham Act Fund under the supervision of Mrs. M. T. Baker, the school has been a center where mothers could leave their children while working.

Following World War II when the funds were eliminated by Congress, and the Board of Public Welfare found it impossible to continue operation of the school, Miss Thomasena Robinson, then head teacher, agreed to carry on the center as a cooperative enterprise with the parents. On July 7, 1947, The Nursery School opened serving parents living in Alabama and Nichols Avenues, Simms Drive, and the Barry Farms Projects.

From the employing of two teachers - Mrs. Florence Cox and Miss Thomasena Robinson - to help fourteen children, the school has increased its enrollment to over twenty pupils.  In addition to providing them with desirable educational, social, health and physical activities, the center has promoted very successfully a carnival, a dance, two raffles, and a movie to help supplement the fees paid by the parents.

Other activities that have been of utmost help to the center are services rendered by students from Miner Teachers College, the taking of excursions into the community and city, special day observances, and participation in community health and volunteer drives for civic betterment.

In these and many other ways, the Nursery School is doing everything possible to help working parents care for their children, who are given untold opportunities for wholesome, well rounded development during their most formative years.

L. M. Mundy and M. P. Harashaw
Interview with Mrs. T. R. Matthews, Director of the Nursery School

Outstanding Citizens of Anacostia
(From page 14)

Our class rooms are living symbols of the hope and promise of the new Birney to come and the Anacostia community still growing.

We look with pride therefore to the contributions of citizens, teachers and friends of the Anacostia area.  The records should prove to be a source of inspiration to the present and future generations.  Our present youthful citizens can now see and ascertain the important links in the strong chain of the Anacostia community.  Take pride and joy in the accomplishments of predecessors.  Stretch our hands and hearts and strive for greater heights for the glory of Anacostia.

Interviews with persons concerned, Miss L. A. Robinson and Mrs. F. S. McLendon.
S. P. Moore

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