Photo by Anne Ritcher Arnold
PORTSMOUTH — On Wednesday, nearly 100 years after her graduation from Portsmouth High School, Elizabeth Virgil was given an honorary PHS faculty position in perpetuity.
Virgil, an African-American woman who graduated PHS in 1922, was also the first African-American to graduate from the University of New Hampshire. The daughter of a Portsmouth housekeeper, she dreamed of going to college and becoming a teacher. She received her four-year degree from UNH in home economics in 1926 and was the only black woman in an all-white college.
Virgil’s honorary position was bestowed during the unveiling of the 2018 PHS class gift, a series of murals titled the “Who We Are” Project, a two-part project that took four years to complete. Phase 2, called “Opening Doors,” involved the research for and construction of a mural display highlighting the history and traditions of PHS dating to its founding in 1827.
For the last two years, students from PHS’ Honors American Studies classes, alongside seniors from student council, conducted groundbreaking research to complete the mural. Displays include the first school in New Hampshire, founded in 1790, the African School in Portsmouth, five alumni that embody the Clipper spirit and a display on the Haven medals.
Virgil is the subject of one of the murals, aptly titled “Transcending Adversity.” From their research, the students realized Portsmouth in early 1900s was a diverse, separate but symbiotic community, filled with a blend of cultures. Even so, they were shocked by the discovery that Virgil, who wanted to be an educator, moved to the South to get employment. White social conventions prevented African-Americans from being hired as teachers so she relocated to find a position.
Helping the students with their research was PHS alumna and friend of Virgil’s, Valerie Cunningham. Cunningham is a PHS alumna, founder of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail and author of the book, “Black Portsmouth: Three Centuries of African-American Heritage.” The students used the book for research and worked with Cunningham directly to learn the stories of Virgil’s life and how she overcame adversity to realize her dreams.
JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, was recognized along with Cunningham for the crucial help with researching the project.
“This project and the award are so important,” Cunningham said. “The students were able to get a more complete and accurate picture of history by researching how Miss Virgil overcame racial and gender hurdles to have a significant life. She truly transcended adversity and I hope she is an inspiration to students to follow their dreams.”
