Rebecca Primus
(1836 - 1932)
Occupation: Educator
Place of Origin: Hartford, Connecticut
Summary:
Primus was missioned to venture south to educate the newly emancipated free Blacks in Royal Oak, Maryland. Initially, lessons were held in the Black church in Royal Oak, where she educated both children and adults. Two years after her arrival in Maryland, she, with the help of ‘friends and sympathizers’ in Hartford, built and funded what is now considered The Primus Institute.
In 2005, the school was burned down. Despite this misfortune, her legacy and contributions continue to live on through the descendants of her students, letters, and archival studies.
Early Life:
Rebecca Primus was an African American educator and philanthropist from Hartford, Connecticut. Born into a prominent Black family, she was the eldest of four children to Holdridge Primus, a grocery clerk, and Mehitable Jacobs, a seamstress. The Primus family was well-respected and active within Hartford's Black community.
Primus received her early education at the First African School, located in the basement of the Talcott Street Congregational Church. After graduating in 1853, she opened a private school in her home, demonstrating her commitment to education and community upliftment.
Achievements and Accolades:
In 1865, during the Reconstruction era, she was selected by the Hartford Freedmen's Aid Society to teach newly freed slaves in the South. Primus established the first school for Black students in Royal Oak, Maryland, initially conducting classes in a local church. Through her fundraising efforts, she secured funds to build a dedicated schoolhouse, which was named the Primus Institute in her honor. The school operated until 1929.
Beyond her educational endeavors, Primus maintained a close and affectionate correspondence with Addie Brown, a free Black woman and domestic worker. Their letters, spanning from 1859 to 1868, provide a rare and intimate glimpse into the lives of African-American women during the 19th century. These letters have been preserved and studied for their historical significance, offering insights into their personal experiences and the broader social context of the time.
Primus would eventually return to Hartford, where she continued to contribute to her community. She worked as a seamstress, taught Sunday school at the Talcott Street Congregational Church, and, in 1870, became the assistant superintendent of the Sunday school, marking the first time a woman held a management position at the church. Primus remained active in her community until she died in 1932.
Resources:
https://talbothistory.org/collections-research/collections-archives/rebecca-primus/
https://www.trincoll.edu/primus-project/rebecca-primus/