James Solomon Russell (December 20, 1857 – March 28, 1935), born enslaved in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, shortly before the American Civil War, became an Episcopal priest and educator in the postwar period.
Russell founded Saint Paul Normal and Industrial School, which later became Saint Paul's College. He declined two elections to become bishop in order to continue directing that historically black college. It closed in 2013 because of financial problems.[1]
- ^ "Russell, James Solomon (1857–1935)". www.encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved March 2, 2016.