Touching History: A Rediscovered School and the Women Who Remember It

Hidden behind brick for over 70 years, a wooden wall from the original Vienna “Colored” School — built during the Great Depression — was uncovered during a renovation at Louise Archer Elementary School in Vienna, Virginia. Alees Coates-Richardson and Gloria Carter, who attended the school in the 1940s, returned to see — and touch — the preserved wall of the school where they once learned, prayed, and played. Join Alees and Gloria in this heart-warming story as they revisit their childhood schoolhouse, remember their beloved principal Louise Archer, and reflect on the resilience and dignity of Black educators and students during segregation. In Loving Memory: Mrs. Gloria Carter passed away on July 23, 2025, at the age of 91. Mrs. Alees Coates-Richardson passed away on November 9, 2025, at the age of 92. We extend our deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. Gloria and Alees' presence, wisdom, and grace left an abiding legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew them.