“Untying the Knot” Documents the History of Eva L. Thomas High School

PHOTO CREDIT: All can be attributed to the Fulton County Schools Archives.

A new documentary teaches students about the legacy of a former Fulton County school during desegregation. “Untying the Knot” explores the history of Eva L. Thomas High School, the challenges it faced, and shares the stories of its alumni.

The school was once a cornerstone of education, serving the Black community of College Park until the spring of 1970, after which it was integrated and repurposed as facility for all 8th graders in the College Park area. The school was named after former Atlanta Public Schools teacher and community leader Eva Louise Thomas. Alumni interviewed in the documentary describe the school as a “breath of fresh air.”

"Eva Thomas embodies the achievement of constructing a new facility for the community despite the challenges of segregation," stated Executive Producer Mike Santrock. "It also signifies the district's efforts to invest in Black schools as a means to delay integration."

In 2021, Fulton County Schools Archives connected with alumni of the school.  The Archives is part of the Fulton County Schools (FCS) Teaching Museum, which collects, preserves, and shares the history of the district and the Fulton County Board of Education.

“It’s a really amazing resource for instructional materials,” Teaching Museum Curator Jena Sibille said.  “We work with the archives’ collections to create content for teachers.”

“The alumni in the film are very active in preserving a lot of the historic fabric of that community," stated Santrock. “Since we’ve met them, our collection on Eva Thomas has grown threefold.”

“Untying the Knot” includes a documentary, a website, an online exhibit, and an in-person exhibit at the FCS Teaching Museum. The museum is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, click here.