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Bill Ayers, director of Children's Community School, May 1968 Photographer: Eck Stanger

Bill Ayers, director of Children's Community School, May 1968 image
Year:
1968
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, May 14, 1968
Caption:
Seeks Post: William Ayers, the 23-year-old director of an experimental school for children, is a candidate in the June 10 school board election. Ayers, a city resident for five years, is director of the Children's Community, a school for children from four to eight years of age. Ayers' formal announcement of candidacy appeared in Friday's edition of The News.
Ann Arbor 200
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Media

There Went The Neighborhood: The Closing of Jones School

As part of Ann Arbor 200, the Ann Arbor District Library and 7 Cylinders Studio (7CS) have produced a documentary film about the closing of Ann Arbor's Jones School. In 1965, the Board of Education closed the majority-Black school. Ann Arbor joined a nationwide trend of school desegregation during the Civil Rights Era. But for these young students, the loss of a neighborhood school foreshadowed changes to their close-knit community. Gentrification came to Ann Arbor on the heels of desegregation.

In the making of this film, 7CS filmmakers and AADL archivists interviewed over thirty former Jones students and Black community leaders. They shared memories of Jones School and "The Old Neighborhood"—the areas now known as Kerrytown and Water Hill. A filmed walking tour, studio interviews, and historical photos form the core of the film. Run time is approximately 40 minutes.
 

The AADL Archives has many additional materials to explore relating to these topics, including a history of Jones School and dozens of Ann Arbor News articles that appear in the film:

More Negro Teachers Urged

More Negro Teachers Urged image
Parent Issue
Day
29
Month
July
Year
1965
Copyright
Copyright Protected

Path Constructed For Abbot School Students, October 1971 Photographer: Cecil Lockard

Path Constructed For Abbot School Students, October 1971 image
Year:
1971
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, October 22, 1971
Caption:
A volunteer project to provide a gravel path for youngsters living in the Maple Park Public Housing Development near N. Maple and Dexter Rds. who attend Abbot School is scheduled for completion this weekend. Grading services were donated by the Washtenaw Asphalt Co. and parents and members of the community have done volunteer work to complete the path. The project, headed by Abbot Principal Don Lyon, resulted from a petition to the Board of Education from parents and the housing commission complaining about the three quarter of a mile walk to Abbot from the area.

Library Officially Put On Beal Site

Library Officially Put On Beal Site image
Parent Issue
Day
9
Month
February
Year
1956
Copyright
Copyright Protected

Newport School Board Candidates, May 1985 Photographer: Colleen Fitzgerald

Newport School Board Candidates, May 1985 image
Year:
1985
Published In:
Ann Arbor News, May 21, 1985
Caption:
The candidates included (l-r) Royster, Krehbiel, Wilson, Gill, Wallin and Israel.