ACU history department to conduct archeological expedition For Immediate Release Nov. 15, 1999 Dr. Vernon Williams, Abilene Christian University history professor, along with seven students, will conduct an archeological expedition to Hamlin tomorrow, Nov. 16. Oscar Depriest School is the subject of this expedition. The school was built in 1940 to serve as the segregated school for Hamlin first graders through high school students. Students junior high and older were bused in to the school daily. The school was last used for education purposes in spring of 1965. Lead by Williams, the students will perform a site survey on the school. They will document historical information by assessing the layout of the school, the current level of decay and deterioration, the artifacts left behind, what time has done to the building and how it was used. From this assessment, they will generate an archive consisting of photographs, maps and artifacts. The team also will interview students and teachers from the school on site. All seven students participating in this expedition are enrolled in a "U.S. History, Since 1945" class at ACU. According to Williams, this will be a valuable learning experience for the students. They will learn how to conduct a site survey, and the work relates to information they are studying in class about civil rights and integration. One of the students participating in the expedition is Ree Titus. She was once a student at Oscar Depriest. She expects to gain a better understanding of the culture that existed at that time through this project. "I like to get involved in understanding what has happened in the past." Oscar Depriest is located 40 miles north of Abilene. To join the team, contact Williams at 674-2150 or Tom Craig at 665-5469 today. -30- Archived News Releases - Current ACU News and Events If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@acu.edu or call 915-674-2692 (cell phone: 665-5469). Last update: Nov. 15, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/events/news/991115-history.html