May 9, 2012

Julius Rosenwald was one of the most important figures in Southern African American education. Although a successful businessman, his philanthropic work has always overshadowed his financial success. In 1917, he established the Julius Rosenwald Fund, which provided grants to build schools for black students across the South. By the time the fund was depleted in 1932, it had aided in the construction of 389 school buildings in Arkansas. Most of these were built in the southeastern part of the state.