Student Life

Expansion of education gave need for a new building for the New Bern Graded School in circa 1908.   This flyer talks of the need for an auditorium to be added on to ensure a better quality of education through comfort. This flyer not only stated plans for the new building itself talking of "at least forty windows for each floor" to give more light and air flow. William H. Oliver speaks on his extensive knowledge being apart of the Trustees of the New Bern Academy for nearly fifty years and all that the new building will offer once erected. (1) The Graded Schools of New Bern were establised in 1883. These graded schools were under the New Bern Academy. When Oliver touches on the New Bern Academy, he is still talking about the Graded Schools of New Bern as well.(2)

1) Oliver, William H., “Need of an Auditorium,” Craven County Digital History, accessed July 26, 2025, https://kellenberger.mycprl.org/digital/items/show/762.

2) Gadski, Mary Ellen. 1986. The History of the New Bern Academy; pg. 205. New Bern Tryon Palace Commission. 

This photo from The New Bern Photo Album shows students in the yard probably enjoying an assembly, with a drummer towards the middle of the photograph, 1901. (1)

1) “New Bern Graded School, with students in yard,” Craven County Digital History, accessed July 26, 2025, https://kellenberger.mycprl.org/digital/items/show/879.

This photograph taken in the 1890s at the Gerock Studio shows what seems to be a group of students after graduation. How was this conjecture made? The young girls are seen holding tied up pieces of paper to be assumed as diplomas. (1) 

1) Gerock Studio, “Gerock Studio, Photo of High School Graduating Class ?,” Craven County Digital History, accessed July 26, 2025, https://kellenberger.mycprl.org/digital/items/show/59.

Here pictured is the graduating exercises for the class of 1918 for the New Bern City Schools. The graduating class only included eight students graduating, however the list is coed. This brochure was given courtesy of the H.J. McDonald Collection. (1)

1) New Bern City Schools, “New Bern City Schools Graduating Exercises, Thursday, May 30th, 1918,” Craven County Digital History, accessed July 26, 2025, https://kellenberger.mycprl.org/digital/items/show/764.