Melzetta Williams : A Teacher's Recollections
Caption:
In these scrapbook pages, Melzetta Williams describes her home town, school experiences, hobbies, church affairs, and her first teaching job. Five separate pages were donated to the High Point Museum. Click on each image to get a close-up view. A transcription of each page is shown below, however Mrs. Williams' neat handwriting hardly makes this necessary.

Gift of Glenn Chavis.
Transcription:
Citizens/Residential Sheet 1 "My Home - High Point" Transcription: "My home is at High Point North Carolina. It gets its name from being the highest point on the original survey made between Fayetteville and Charlotte for the old N.C. Railroad. H.P. is 940 feet above sea level, being an unusually healthy city with a temperate climate. High Point is an excellent place to live, with a population of 36, 741." Citizens/Residential Sheet 2 "My School Days" Obverse Transcription: "I. High School Days. 1920-1924. Happy was I when I entered High School at H. P. N. and I. Inst. My class was composed of a real jolly bunch of boys and girls being about 30 in number having come from all parts of the state (N.C.) Some of our new studies were Algebra, Latin. During my second year, two clubs were organized in my class, namely P.O. Club for the boys and V2 Club for the girls. Each club donated to the school stone steps which were located at Congdon Hall and classroom building. At the end of four years, our class completed its High School course there being only 10 remaining. Six secured positions as teachers while the other four pursued higher training."
Reverse Transcription: "II. College Days - 1924-1926. I entered Slater State Normal School in Sept 1924 (known as W. S. Teachers College) to specialize in teacher training work and to receive major training in Grammar Grade work. Since I was in the boarding dept it was very difficult (this being my first time in boarding school) for me to adapt myself to the surroundings. Our class was the largest class that had been in the history of the Normal School being composed of 63 pupils. During my Senior year our class participated in several social entertainments, such as banquets, hikes, etc. At the end of the year 50 Seniors were graduated receiving State certificates also diplomas on June 3, 1926. I consider these two years well spent." Citizens/Residential Sheet 3 "My Hobbies" Transcription: "I. Playing Cards - I consider this as my greatest hobby. I would rather play cards than to eat when I am hungry. At any time and at any place I am always ready to participate in a card game, especially "whist".
II. Basket Ball - This is a game that I was forced to take part in during my Normal School Training but after I became interested in it. It became a famous hobby. However, I never did play well enough to become a member of the team and the team work was too rough for me.
III. Reading - I delight in reading books of good literature. When the weather is unfavorable it is my hobby to sit indoors and read."
(Reverse blank) Citizens/Residential Sheet 4 "Church Affairs" Transcription: "My religious faith is that of the Baptist Church. I am a member of the First Baptist Church, E. Washington Street, High Point, North Carolina. I joined this church at the age of ten and was baptized by Rev. O. S. Bullock, who is now located at Raleigh, N.C. He was succeeded by Rev. S. L. Parham. My next pastor and my present pastor is F. R. Mason who came from Salisbury, N.C. to our church."
(Reverse blank) Citizens/Residential Sheet 5 "My First Position. Oct. 1926-May 1927" Obverse Transcription: "My First position was that of a teacher, which I have looked forward to for some time. Having finished my school work, I consider it very lucky in securing a position in a six teacher school with four jolly girls and a man as principal. As teacher of the third grade I have had many pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Unfortunately I have several boys in my grade who are equally as large as I and seems to take pleasure in trying to tolerate me [sic]. Of course I repay them [continued on reverse]"
Reverse Transcription: "[continued from obverse] with the usual punishment. The third grade class is large containing 45 scholars with a majority who seems to be very interesting in all activities and movements that may develop them intellectual [sic] and that lead to the goal of SUCCESS."
Object ID:
2005.071.002
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