Background
James Solomon Russell was born of slave parents, Solomon and Araminta (Russell) Russell, on the Henrick estate, Palmer's Springs, Mecklenburg County, Virginia.
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James Solomon Russell
Edit ProfileEducation
He is said to have gone to school for the first time at Smith Creek, N. C. , when he was about eleven years old. Encouraged by persons who recognized his native ability, he saved the money he earned and in 1874 entered Hampton Institute, where he remained until 1878. For four years thereafter he pursued studies at St. Stephen's Normal Training School, Petersburg, Va. , and then, having determined to enter the ministry, prepared for that calling at the Bishop Paine Divinity School, conducted in the same town.
Career
On March 9, 1882, Russell was ordained deacon in St. Stephen's Church, Petersburg, and was soon sent as a missionary to Brunswick County. He was advanced to the priesthood, February 9, 1887, at the same church where he was made deacon. Russell's great achievement was the establishment at Lawrenceville, Brunswick County, of St. Paul Normal and Industrial School. Beginning with a few students in a three-room house, it developed under his labors and guidance into an important institution with an enrolment of several hundred. It was opened on September 24, 1888, and incorporated March 4, 1890. Its object was "to build up character and to educate the youth along industrial lines, to go out among their people and by precept and example to teach them the true dignity of labor" (Catalogue, 1902 - 03, p. 14).
Russell served as principal until 1930, when he was made emeritus; he was succeeded by his son James Alvin Russell. In 1893 he was named archdeacon of the diocese of Southern Virginia. He visited England and France in 1907, attended the Pan-African Congress at London in 1911, made a trip to Europe and Africa in 1918, and was in London again in 1926. He might have been the first colored Episcopal bishop had he not declined to leave his school, for he was elected suffragan bishop of Arkansas in 1917 and of North Carolina the following year.
In 1923 he was elected to membership on the board of missions and to the National Council of the Episcopal Church. He died in Lawrenceville after several months of illness, and more than 3, 000 people, it is said, attended his funeral.
Achievements
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Russell was known as the founder of Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School, which later became Saint Paul's College. In addition to his work as an educator, Russell took an important part in the affairs of the Episcopal Church and in matters pertaining to the advancement of his race. He was awarded the Harmon gold medal in 1928 for useful achievement and leadership of his race.
Connections
On December 20, 1882 Russell married Virginia M. Morgan of Petersburg, by whom he had five children--Araminta, James Alvin, Otelia, Herman, and Charlotte.
References
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Born
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Died
March 28, 1935 (aged 78) -
Nationality
American -
Religion
Protestant