Brown vs. Board of Education 50th Anniversary: 
Resources for Educators from Peerless Rockville

May 17, 2004 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education decision, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case ruling that racial segregation in public educational facilities was unconstitutional. 

Peerless Rockville offers resources for educators who wish to bring the drama of Brown vs. Board into their classrooms in this commemorative year.

Nina Clarke - Segregation in Montgomery County VHS Tape 

Author, community activist, educator, historian, and principal and teacher in the Montgomery County Public School system, Nina Clarke was born in Poolesville, Maryland in 1917. Her family has lived in Montgomery County for seven generations. Clarke was educated in a segregated county public school system. After graduating from Rockville Colored High School in 1934, she attended Bowie State College and received an advanced first grade teaching certificate in 1937. She returned to the county at age 19 and began teaching in several of the local schools for black children. 

During the 1950s, Clarke became one of the first African American teachers to teach white children after Montgomery County schools began to desegregate following the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown vs. Board decision. 

In October 1968, Clarke was appointed principal of Aspen Hill Elementary School in Rockville, becoming the second African American woman principal of an integrated school. Clarke remained principal of Aspen Hill until her retirement in 1973, completing 36 years in the Montgomery County Public School system.

Following retirement, Clarke started a new career as a historian, author, lecturer and volunteer. She co-authored in 1978 with Lillian Brown, A History of the Black Public Schools of Montgomery County, Maryland 1872–1961. In 1983 she published History of the 19th Century Black Churches in Maryland and Washington D.C.

Peerless Rockville has a VHS tape available to check out from our office of Nina Clarke speaking about segregation and desegregation of the Montgomery County Public Schools. Peerless Rockville's office is at 29 Courthouse Square, Room 100, in the Red Brick Courthouse. Our hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturday.

Contact staff for availability: 301-762-0096, or e-mail info@peerlessrockville.org (please add "Request Nina Clark tape" in your e-mail Subject line).

Request Nina Clarke to Speak

Peerless is also compiling requests for Mrs. Nina Clark to speak in person.  Please e-mail requests to info@peerlessrockville.org (please add "Request Clark" in your e-mail Subject line).  Include in the body of your message the name of your school or group, the address, grade level(s) or other audience demographics, contact person name and telephone number.  We will forward your request to Mrs. Clarke, who will schedule her engagements as time permits.

See the Peerless Rockville Traveling Exhibit that Commemorates Brown vs. Board in Rockville, Rockville on the Road to Brown.

Rockville citizens and places played important roles in the movement that led to the decision that separation is inherently unequal. This exhibit is based on oral histories conducted earlier this year with citizens who experienced this chapter of our history and witnessed firsthand the impact the  landmark decision had on our community.  It travels to schools, libraries, and other public places around Rockville.

The exhibit is not currently on view.  Please check back to see when/where it will be next.