ICYMI: McClellan Commemorates Trailblazer and Lifelong Advocate for Education James Solomon Russell
To commemorate this year’s James Solomon Russell Day, Congresswoman McClellan introduces bill preserving Russell’s legacy
Washington, D.C. – In case you missed it: This weekend, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) celebrated the life and legacy of James Solomon Russell with Saint Paul’s College Alumni, friends and family. Russell, who was born enslaved in 1857, lived a life of service as a priest and educator, founding what would become St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, VA.
To commemorate the Fourth Annual James Solomon Russell Day, McClellan spoke at a dinner sponsored by the James Solomon Russell – Saint Paul’s College Museum and Archives to announce the introduction of her bill to rename the Lawrenceville Post Office to the “James Solomon Russell Post Office.”
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are American values,” said McClellan. “We are stronger when we are together and all Americans are given the opportunity for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – when all of our stories are told.”
Russell played a vital role in leading Virginians through their faith journey, starting his ministry in Lawrenceville in 1882. Through his ministry, he recognized local residents’ desire to learn and obtain education, but there were few options available to Black Virginians at that time. In 1888, he founded St. Paul’s Normal and Industrial School, which offered students a three-year curriculum.
“We are here to make sure the work James Solomon Russell did lives on,” McClellan continued. “We find ourselves fighting the same fights he did, but from a position of more strength and power then he ever dreamed of. We fight those fights so that our children and our grandchildren don’t have to.”
His relentless efforts transformed the educational landscape for Black Virginians after the Civil War. Today, his legacy lives on in the James Solomon Russell | St. Paul’s College Museum and Archives.
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