FLORENCE-As a result of work by University of North Alabama public history students, the Maud Lindsay Free Kindergarten recently was listed to the National Register of Historic Places. The kindergarten was established in 1898 and still is serving Florence children.
In 2016, Brian Murphy, Carrie Keener and Cait Monroe began the nomination as part of their course work for a historic preservation class with Carrie Barske Crawford, Ph.D. The students researched the school’s background and its place in Florence history, photographed the structure, drew a floor plan of the building and mapped the several different sites where the school has been located through the years. During the process, they worked with kindergarten director Dianna Hawk,
“I have always felt that Maud Lindsay Free Kindergarten is a special part of not only our local history, but also our state history. Being recognized at the national level is a great honor,” Hawk said. “I appreciate Dr. Carrie Barske Crawford, her students and staff for taking on this project and the work required for the school to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”
Maud Lindsay
In 1898, a group of women led by Lulie Jones organized the Pioneer Free Kindergarten of Alabama Association for the children of industrial east Florence. The school opened in the home of Mrs. R. Price, on Wood Avenue, on Sept. 3. Jones was friends with Tuscumbia-native Maud Lindsay and knew of her desire to teach young children using a progressive system of education. She recommended the group ask Lindsay to teach at the school. Lindsay agreed and remained at the school until her death in 1941. The beloved teacher also wrote 13 children’s books and several children’s stories for magazines.
“It is always exciting to see student projects come to fruition, no matter how long it takes,” Crawford said. “Brian, Cait and Carrie learned so much about historic preservation and how the National Register process works. They also helped recognize an important part of Florence’s history. The Maud Lindsay Kindergarten provided early childhood education opportunities to children who, living in industrial east
Florence, might not have had them otherwise.”
Media Release/Cathy Wood, media coordinator/Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area
