Name/Title
Miss Alvernon CrossEntry/Object ID
IMG107Description
Tintype, believed to be Miss Alvernon Cross (b. ca. 1843), daughter of Ambrose and Margaret Cross of White Pillars, Harpers Ferry. On reverse "Old Tintype - Found in attic of house now known as White Pillars in Harper's Ferry, originally the Cross House, tintype is believed to be picture of the Crosses' daughter, Miss Alvernon Cross."
Biographical information on Alvernon Cross adapted from a Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Facebook post, Mar 25, 2021, by Melinda Day (NPS Ranger), "Raising the Bar: On Married Teachers."
Alvernon Cross was born before the civil war when her father was an armory worker [at the U. S. Armory in Harpers Ferry]. By the 1880s to the 1920s, her name appeared in the newspapers and U.S. Census as a single woman, living on Camp Hill and serving in the public-school system as teacher or principal. Her professional teaching career seemed to follow a pattern from year to year: her name appeared in the local newspapers, along with the other teachers, to let the public know who would be teaching in Harpers Ferry or Bolivar, the teachers' salaries were announced, and for her summer vacation, who was coming to pay her a visit at her Camp Hill Harpers Ferry home. By the time she was 70, she was no longer in the public-school system, but being a single woman in 1913, with no other form of income, she was about to open her own private school in Harpers Ferry for 18 lucky small children. Such a brave venture, for someone who would normally be retired: to get up each school day to venture into the classroom of busy and energetic little ones.Acquisition
Accession
23Source or Donor
Dorgan, Cornelia J.Acquisition Method
Gift