Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts & Archives
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Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Box and Folder Listing
Cataloguing Information
Processed by:
Wilma L. Gibbs
20 November 1991
VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 1 box (.5 Linear feet)
COLLECTION DATES: Inclusive 1933-85; Bulk
PROVENANCE: Russell Lane, Indianapolis, IN, 27 February 1985
RESTRICTIONS: None
COPYRIGHT: Held by Indiana Historical Society
ALTERNATE FORMATS: None
OTHER FINDING AIDS: None
RELATED HOLDINGS: None
ACCESSION NUMBER: 86.541
NOTES:
Russell Adrian Lane (1897-1986) was an educator. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of George and Mattie Lane.
Lane received his elementary and high school education in Baltimore. His father, an attorney, was one of the first blacks admitted to the Maryland bar. His mother, a graduate of Howard University, was a school teacher. Russell Lane received four college degrees, including a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Indiana University..
After graduating from Brown University in 1921, Lane attended Howard University Law School for two years while he worked as a substitute teacher at Douglass High School in Washington D.C. In 1923, he and his wife, Marie, went to Heidelburg, Germany to study philosophy and education for a year. From 1924-27, Lane was principal of Wilberforce High School in Wilberforce, Ohio.
The Lanes came to Indianapolis in September, 1927. After a year as an English teacher at the newly opened Crispus Attucks High School for black students, Lane became head of the English Department. He became acting principal of the school in 1930. Named principal in 1932, he remained at Attucks until 1957 when he became assistant to the superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools. He retired from that position in 1968.
Lane was principal at Attucks during an era characterized by rigid segregation. A significant color barrier was broken during Lane's era when the Indiana High School Athletic Association permitted Attucks's admittance to its ranks. Attucks was allowed to participate in the championship tournaments, as well as the regular season play with other association members. In 1955, it became the first Indianapolis high school to win a state championship game. The school also captured this coveted title in 1956 and 1959.
The Lane administration at Attucks has been described as having a committment to excellence. Lane encouraged teachers to seek more education and he insisted upon self-discipline from his students. As a matter of practice, he recommended employment of Attucks graduates whenever possible.
Lane was a member of the Serra International Catholic Men's Club, Retired Teacher's Association of the Indiana and Ohio bar associations, and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. As members of Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Church, he and his wife were honored in 1985 by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for sixty-five years of marriage. A world traveller, Lane's travels included Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.
Russell Lane died 28 April 1986.
This collection (1933-1985) consists of one manuscript box of clippings and programs which relate to Crispus Attucks High School and its third principal, Russell A. Lane. There are programs from class reunions ('33 and '58) and a 1933 yearbook. Also included is a lengthy biographical sketch of Lane and numerous newspaper clippings. The clippings mostly relate to Lane, alumni, or other individuals associated with the school. There is a 1983 article about the opening of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA time capsule. There are also a few articles which reference the planned 1986 closing of Crispus Attucks High School.
Rose Mickley Cheatham's dissertation, Russell Adrian Lane: Biography of an Urban Negro School Administrator, is stored in Printed Collections (PC). A paperback version of the dissertation that contains minor revisions is contained in
Folder 8. Two gold rings awarded to the Crispus Attucks High School boys basketball teams as the IHSAA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) champions for 1955 and 1956, and a small golden basketball inscribed with Lane's name, along with a Selective Service System Medal are stored in the Artifacts Collection. Several photographs, mostly of Russell Lane and others are located in Visual Collections (M 522).
BOX 1
FOLDER CONTENTS
1 Biographical Sketch and Award, 1955
2 Correspondence; Magazine
3 Russell A. Lane funeral program, 1986
4 Clippings, 1976-86
5 Programs
6 Crispus Attucks Yearbook, 1933
7 (PC) Dissertation about Lane
8 Book about Lane
9 (VC) Photographs
10 (ART) Artifacts
PHOTOGRAPHS
(BOX 1, FOLDER 9)
1 Russell A. Lane with Vivian Terry Moore, Alexander Moore, and Julian D. Coleman
2 Russell A. Lane at desk
3 Russell A. Lane standing with seven other men
4 Russell A. Lane with a man standing adjacent to a pile of debris. (Crispus Attucks High School in the background), 1950
5 Rose Cheatham Mickey presenting a copy of her dissertation to Russell Lane and wife at entrance of Crispus Attucks High School, 1983
6 Russell A. Lane portrait
7 Russell A. Lane and others greeting Mary M. Bethune as she is deplaning
8 Group of Schoolage Children
9 Russell A. Lane and others at a table
10 Russell A. Lane with Mary Bethune and Mrs. O.A. Johnson adjacent to airplane
11 Russell A. Lane and others seated at dining table
ARTIFACTS
(BOX 1, FOLDER 10)
1 Two IHSAA Rings on Necklaces, 1955-1956
2 One Selective Service Medal, n.d.
3 One small golden basketball inscribed with Principal, Russell Lane, 1956
MAIN ENTRY: Lane, Russell Adrian
SUBJECT ENTRIES: Crispus Attucks High School
Indianapolis Young Women's Christian Association--Phyllis Wheatley Branch
Cheatham, Rose Mickley
Afro-American school principals--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans--Education (Secondary)--Indiana--Indianapolis
Afro-Americans--Indiana--Indianapolis
Education, Urban--Indiana--Indianapolis
Education, Secondary--Indiana--Indianapolis
Educators--Indiana--Indianapolis
High school principals--Indiana--Indianapolis
High schools--Indiana--Indianapolis
Segregation in education--Indiana--Indianapolis
School yearbooks
END