"This dissertation is a historical analysis of a case study/ purposeful sample. It is an exploration of the first "colored" schools both private and public in Franklin County, Ohio 1870-1913. [...] This investigation focused on three areas: similarities and differences of public and private schools in Franklin County, Ohio 1870-1913, the impact of policy and law on the opening, closing, and operations of these schools, and what implications this query may have on contemporary issues in the education of black children. Moreover, this inquiry also investigated social, political and legal landscape that served as the context for the effort"--Abstract.