Institute for Colored Youth

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Institute for Colored Youth
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Pennsylvania state historical marker
Institute for Colored Youth.JPG
Institute for Colored Youth is located in Philadelphia
Institute for Colored Youth
Location915 Bainbridge St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Coordinates39°56′31″N 75°09′28″W / 39.9419°N 75.1579°W / 39.9419; -75.1579Coordinates: 39°56′31″N 75°09′28″W / 39.9419°N 75.1579°W / 39.9419; -75.1579
ArchitectEdward Fay
Architectural styleItalianate
MPSPhiladelphia Public Schools TR
NRHP reference No.86003324
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 4, 1986[2]
Designated PHMC1991[1]

The Institute for Colored Youth was founded in 1837 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. After moving to Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and changing its name to Cheyney University, it continues as the oldest African-American school of higher education, although degrees were not granted by Cheyney until 1913; this did not matter. For prior to the Civil War, there was no structured higher education system for black students. Public policy and certain statutory provisions prohibited the education of blacks in various parts of the nation. The Institute for Colored Youth, the first higher education institution for black people, was founded in Cheyney, Pennsylvania, in 1837. It was followed by two other black institutions—Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania (1854), and Wilberforce University, in Ohio (1856). The second site of the Institute for Colored Youth at Ninth and Bainbridge Streets in Philadelphia was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It is also known as the Samuel J. Randall School, and is a three-story, three-bay brick building built in 1865, in the Italianate-style[3]

The Institute was founded by Richard Humphreys, a Quaker philanthropist who bequeathed $10,000, one-tenth of his estate, to design and establish a school to educate people of African descent. Born on a plantation in the West Indies, Humphreys came to Philadelphia in 1764, where he became concerned about the struggles of free African Americans to make a living. News of a race riot in 1829 prompted Humphreys to write his will, in which he charged thirteen fellow Quakers to design an institution "to instruct the descendants of the African Race in school learning, in the various branches of the mechanic Arts, trades and Agriculture, in order to prepare and fit and qualify them to act as teachers...."

Using the money Humphreys bequeathed, the Quakers formed an organization in 1837. For several years, they experimented with agricultural and industrial education, as well as trade apprenticeships for African-American children. By 1851, the Managers, as the Quakers came to be called, instead decided to focus on Humphreys's wish to train African-American children to become teachers. In 1852, the Managers opened the first Institute for Colored Youth building at 716–718 Lombard Street in Philadelphia.[4] Grace A. Mapps was appointed head of the 'Female Department'.[5]

Although operated by the Quaker Board of Managers, the faculty of the Institute for Colored Youth consisted entirely of African-American men and women. The Institute contained both Boys' and Girls' High Schools, as well as a Preparatory School (sometimes known as the Brown Preparatory School). The school provided a classical education to young African Americans in Philadelphia, with a curriculum including advanced mathematics, sciences, English, philosophy, various social sciences, and classical languages.[4]

Institute for Colored Youth Building Historical Marker

By 1861, the Managers recognized a need for a better facility for their growing school. After an extensive fundraising campaign, the Managers purchased a lot at 915 Bainbridge Street. The new Institute for Colored Youth building opened on March 9, 1866. It was capable of holding twice as many students as the original school and had facilities such as a lecture hall and chemistry laboratory.[4]

In 1902 the Institute moved to George Cheyney's farm, 25 miles (40 km) west of Philadelphia, and afterward the name "Cheyney" became associated with the school.[6]

The Randall School House is now used as condos.[7]

Notable alumni[]

References[]

  1. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. ^ "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes B. Mintz (July 1986). "Pennsylvania Historic Resource Survey Form: Institute for Colored Youth" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-07-03.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "History of the Institute for Colored Youth" (The Institute for Colored Youth in the Civil War Era" "...a great thing for our people"), Villanova University.
  5. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney (1996). Notable Black American women. Internet Archive. New York : Gale Research. ISBN 978-0-8103-9177-2.
  6. ^ Institute for Colored Youth
  7. ^ "Randall School House". The Condo Shop. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  8. ^ "Rebecca Cole (c. 1846-1922)", The Institute for Colored Youth in the Civil War Era, Villanova University.
  9. ^ William J. Simmons, Henry McNeal Turner, Men of Mark: Eminent, Progressive and Rising, G. M. Rewell & Company, 1887, p 898-907
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