About this collection:

➤ Founded in 1926 as the first of its kind in the State of West Virginia. The building that housed the school was built in 1888 and was part of the Ritchie School’s Campus of buildings. This was due to the construction of a new building for Ritchie School in 1925. The school taught classes in the following disciplines; electrical engineering, Auto mechanical, Related drawing (drafting), Related math, related science, and Industrial education. The school provided education for mostly boys aged 14 to 18 for specialized vocational training. The school also provided night classes for adult men and women who were seeking certification in a vocational field relating to manufacturing. The school closed in 1976 with the county wide consolidation of smaller schools into Wheeling Park High School.

The collection is comprised of 21 photographs documenting common activities and classes attended by the students of McKinley Vocational High School. The photos depict classes such as drafting, woodworking, mechanical working, and electrical work. There are also photos of a graduation, machines related to the school’s training, clubs, and a showcase of work completed at the school. The collection years span from 1951- 1961 with very few of them bearing a date on the back.

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