Negro Girl Valedictorian
Daughter of Colored Minister to Lead in St. Paul School Exercises.
A negro girl, daughter of Rev. Alfred H. Lealtad, rector of St. Phillip's Episcopal church, will be the valedictorian at the graduating exercises of the Mechanics' Art senior class of St. Paul, which takes place next June. Her name is Catherine Deaver Lealtad. She is 17 years old.
The only negro in her class Miss Lealtad, according to the principal of the Mechanics Art, has made a splendid record as a student and has stood at the head of her class since she entered.
As far as any trouble among the members of the senior class over the selection of Miss Lealtad as the valedictorian, the teachers and students are silent. They intimate that no protest will be made. Marcus L. Countryman, son of M.L. Countryman, general counsel for the Great Northern railroad, stands second in the class and under ordinary circumstances will represent his class as salutatorian.
Principal George Weitbrecht in front of St. Paul's Mechanic Arts High School in 1909. (Image courtesy of mnhs.org)
