Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation 

 Second Ward High School was opened in 1923 in Charlotte, North Carolina as the city's first high school for African American children.  Closed in 1969 the school and surrounding neighborhood were bulldozed during urban renewal.  Since 1980, the Foundation has continued the school's mission of education and community involvement. 

Videos featuring stories about alumni and the Second Ward neighborhood are on reporter Neima Abdulahi's on-line site. Her Brooklyn story won a first place from the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas for general news.  

A 1964 graduate, Phyllis Baxter celebrates during a Marker Ceremony. Featured in the Foundation's Annual Meeting and Reunion is the Marker Ceremony. Alumni and friends can view photos from past reunions and history exhibits on Flickr.  See the beginning of the 2016 Marker Ceremony on this site.  

A special event after the Marker Ceremony announced our newest archive project:  preparing a future exhibit on the school to be housed in the historic Second Ward gym.  

Built in 1949, the Gym was declared a historic property for its meaning to the Second Ward school and neighborhood. Its stunning architecture is an early example of modern design in the city and  created by the same architect who would design the original Charlotte Coliseum in the early 1950s.

Interior of the 1949 Second Ward Gym.  

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission has a description of the Second Ward Gym and A.G. Odell, Jr. who created it in his trademark Modernist style.  

 Second Ward alumni meet with Park & Rec department

Our other partner in this project is the Director of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, James Garges, and Division Director James Alsop.  The concept of a gym exhibit originated with Second Ward alumnus Arthur Griffin and Norman Mitchell, Sr. of the Park & Rec Commission.   

Director Garges made it possible to bring a UNCC Public History Graduate student on to the project.  Allyson Miller has worked through the summer with alumni at the House/Museum to catalog our archival materials in preparation for a future exhibit in the gym.  

Our Park & Recreation Department partners have an understanding that the "lost" Brooklyn neighborhood - its homes, churches, the neighborhood and our schools - have deep meaning to many of us.  These are the stories we want to remember and to share with future generations.  

  Second Ward art for the CityLYNX Gold Line 

Second Ward alumnus Michael Pate and other alumni worked with New Orleans Artist Nancy O'Neil to collect photos and documents from the Second Ward neighborhood.  

This art is at the McDowell Street stop, one of the twelve bright, transparent windscreens at the CityLYNX Gold Line Stop locations on the streetcar system.  

For more information about the project and to see information on each piece used, visit the website at this link. 

  

Who We Are

The Second Ward High School National Alumni Foundation is dedicated to keeping the school's memory alive and to be a resource in finding and sharing our community's African American heritage

 Since the organization of the Foundation in 1980, one of our missions has been to be a resource to the community to our partners and to individuals looking to find people, stories, images and information. 

We have developed our collections from numerous donations and projects.  But we are more than an archive.  Working with colleagues and volunteers from the Foundation, we have created museum exhibits, books, interactive media, a documentary film, special events and on-camera interviews with Charlotte black leaders.  See some of our history products on this Media page. 

 For several decades we have served as a resource to conserve and preserve the images of our community.  Our mission grew out of the educational endeavors of the teachers at Second Ward – to document and educate all citizens.

What We Do

The documentary, A Colored School, features remarkable 1941 film footage from a day at the school and surrounding neighborhood. View stories about the film at UNC-TV.

 The May Queen, Margaret Alexander, pictured above  and is one of the students shown in 1941 and on-camera today.

 The Second Ward Foundation's traveling exhibit is available for events

How We Make Our Mission Possible

 We are a volunteer organization and our many projects have been made possible through the work of our volunteers, contributions from alumni and friends and from grants and awards from the following:

The Arts & Science Council of Charlotte has awarded operating and special project grants; The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has helped us document and preserve important histories; and The Good Samaritan Fund of the Episcopal Church has supported our work on the James Peeler photo archive.

Our Logo 

 When first opened, African American students from across the city came to Second Ward, the only all-black high school. Our Second Ward logo represents those original neighborhoods. 

 House/Museum at 1905 Beatties Ford Road 

Alumni and citizens can visit the House/Museum to see memorabilia from the high school and exhibits on the Second Ward neighborhood and other Charlotte neighborhoods that were home to the black community. 

Groups or individual may make appointments to visit or use the Foundation House at 1905 Beatties Ford Road in west Charlottte near the intersection of LaSalle Street.

We are an all volunteer organization and do not have regular museum hours.  But please call us at 704.398.9333  to arrange a visit.