Education

Education

Are you ready to be an image detective? Do you think we can learn about history just by looking at an old photograph? Search for clues in each photograph to see if you can determine the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW for each image. Don't worry, there are questions for each image to help you discover all there is to know about these old photographs. Are you ready?

What do you see in each photograph? Click on each image to enlarge it and see more detail. You may also click on the blue "i" in the corner of each image to read a description, or caption, of the photograph. Do you ever write descriptions about the photos you take? What information do you like to include? Some images will have more information in the caption than others. Why do you think this is?

Learn more about education in Virginia.

Possum Hollow Schoolhouse, Floyd County, 1910

Possum Hollow Schoolhouse, Floyd County, 1910

  1. How many people are in the picture?
  2. What do you think happened before this picture was taken?
  3. What might the people in this picture be saying?
  4. How does this picture make you feel? Why?
  5. Compare this picture with the pictures of other schools in this section. How is it different? How is it the same?
  6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

Hamilton High School, Cartersville, c. 1910

Hamilton High School, Cartersville, c. 1910

  1. How many people are in the picture?
  2. What does this picture show? Why do you think that?
  3. What might the people in this picture be saying?
  4. This picture is a postcard. Why do you think people would make a postcard of a school?
  5. Compare this picture with the pictures of other schools in this section. How is it different? How is it the same?
  6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

Gumtree School, Hanover County, c. 1955

Gumtree School, Hanover County, c. 1955

  1. How many people are in the picture?
  2. What do you think will happen next in this picture?
  3. What might the people in this picture be saying?
  4. How does this picture make you feel? Why?
  5. Compare this picture with the pictures of other schools in this section. How is it different? How is it the same?
  6. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?

Public school at Big Stone Gap

Public school at Big Stone Gap

  1. Describe the building in the picture?
  2. What do you think you would see inside this building?
  3. If there were people in this picture, what do you think they would be doing?
  4. This picture is a postcard. Why do you think someone would make a postcard of a public school?
  5. How does this picture make you feel? Why do you say that?
  6. Compare this picture with the pictures of other schools in this section. How is it different? How is it the same?

First Class in Agriculture, Agricultural College, Manassas

First Class in Agriculture, Agricultural College, Manassas

  1. How many people are in the picture?
  2. Is this picture happy or sad? What makes you say that?
  3. This picture is a postcard. Why do you think people would make a postcard of a school?
  4. Why do you think there is a cupola (the building feature next to the chimney) on top of the building?
  5. Compare this picture with the pictures of other schools in this section. How is it different? How is it the same?
  6. Why do you think someone crossed out the word "College" in the picture?

Leonie Helen Holmes, Richmond, 1911

Leonie Helen Holmes, Richmond, 1911

  1. Describe the picture.
  2. List 3 to 5 questions you have about this picture.
  3. How do you think Leonie Helen Holmes feels? Why do you say that?
  4. Where do you think this picture was taken? Why do you say that?
  5. Why do you think the photographer took this picture?
  6. Why do you think this picture is included in the education section?