The Lincoln School For Colored Children

Maudeline/ Maudelene Bailey Hampton

1909-1992

Educator 1930-1933

Maudeline Bailey was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to Frank and Sarah Bailey on 16 March 1908. She graduated from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis, then received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Butler University.

Maudeline taught at Lincoln School from 1930 to 1933. She boarded with a local family during the week and returned to her home in Indianapolis on the weekends. While in Crawfordsville, she chaired Crawfordsville Parent Teachers Association assisting with fundraisers.

In 1932, she secured Mrs. Blossom Roberts, a prominent soprano, to perform at a recital at the Methodist Church. After the performance, Maudeline hosted a dinner in honor of Mrs. Roberts and honored guests.

Maudeline left Lincoln School to teach in the Indianapolis Public Schools for 38 years, retiring in 1971. She began at School 83 and finished her career at School 56 from 1939 to 1971. She advised the Girl Reserve Clubs of Indianapolis, one of the most essential and extensive agencies outside the public schools. The club regularly met each week and enabled young girls to participate in community service. Maudeline sponsored a kitchen cabinet band for the Girl Reserve’s Annual Gala Day, always held at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in Indianapolis. Songs, yells, stunts, music, and elaborate table decorations highlighted this annual celebration and raised funds for the YWCA Building Fund. Maudeline was also involved in the Pioneer Clubs of School 83. These clubs were famous for their Turkey Day Races and cultivated victory gardens during World War II. In 1943, Maudeline participated in a fashion parade sponsored by School 83’s Parent Teacher Association. Topics included victory gardening, Red Cross work, songs and skits, and modeling of wartime fashions. Maudeline also served as superintendent of the Sunday school at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church.

Maudeline married Richard D Hampton, who was born on 10 February 1910. He owned an Amoco service station for over 20 years, was involved in business activities such as the Four C’s Conservation Club, and was a 32nd-degree Mason. The couple joined Christ Church Cathedral in the 1950s, becoming the first Black members. She served as a Sunday School teacher, volunteer at the church’s cathedral house, and missionary to the church’s companion diocese in Haiti.

Maudeline was a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, a group of women involved in community service and enhancing the quality of life for Black women globally. She was an intrepid traveler; an eight-day Island cruise; to Frankfort, Kentucky, to present social studies books for children; and to Cleveland and various points in Ohio, where she was a guest at the studio WGAR to deliver her speech entitled “Wings Over Jordan.” She also traveled to Detroit, Mammoth Cave, and Louisville, Kentucky.

Maudeline died on 2 March 1992 from various health issues, including Alzheimer’s. She was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Richard died in 1987 from lung cancer.

Robert Thomas

1879-1946

Building caretaker 1931-1933

Robert was born on 15 April 1879 to George and Leah Clark Thomas. At his birth, he was the family’s youngest son and joined Jenny, George, Matilda, Eddie, and William. The family resided in the Shelbyville, Kentucky area.

By 1920, he resided at 406 North Walnut Street in Crawfordsville, worked as a metal polisher, and married Lulu Clark. Lulu was a domestic, born in 1881 in Tennessee to Marshall Ouden and Cornelia Newsum. By 1930, Robert, Lulu, and the children had moved to 708 Milligan Street, and he was the building caretaker at Lincoln School for Colored Children.

Robert did run afoul of the law during his time in Crawfordsville. On 26 October 1900, the Crawfordsville Weekly Journal reported, “The police arrested Robert Thomas on Wednesday, he having several pocketknives of which he was trying to dispose of. Otto Carlson identified the knives as belonging to his stock. Robert is a very bright young man about 20 years of age and tells several stories, one being that he was born in England and had been working at the northern summer resorts. He came to this city Monday for the street fair. He was brought up before the mayor Thursday and, waving a preliminary examination, was bound over to the Circuit Court in the sum of $200”. By November of the same year, Robert had pleaded guilty to petty theft.

Robert died on 25 November 1946 from a cerebral hemorrhage. His funeral services were held at the Second Baptist Church. Lulu died on 28 April 1959.