William Priestley Black

Chatham Hall William Priestley Black

One of the oldest and most revered prep schools in Virginia, Chatham Hall has been home to hundreds of girls since its establishment in 1894. American artist Georgia O'Keeffe studied and began her career at the school. After a fire badly damaged the school in 1906, Andrew Carnegie aided in the rebuilding process. Later, the widow of Coca-Cola's first bottler, Mrs. Arthur Kelly Evans, and Lynchburg native John Craddock helped save the school from closing in 1928. The school and its students offered a tremendous contribution to the nation during World War II, even inspiring a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt. Join author William Priestley Black on a celebration of the astonishingly rich history of Chatham Hall.