Abiel Smith School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Abiel Smith School |
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Abiel Smith School, 2007
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United States
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| Established | 1835 |
The Abiel Smith School opened in 1835. It is a historic building in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. You can find it at 46 Joy Street, right next to the African Meeting House.
The school is named after Abiel Smith. He was a white man who cared about helping others. He left about $4,000 in his will. This money was specifically for the education of black children in Boston.
The city used Smith's money to build the school. Richard Upjohn designed the building. This was his first public project. The Abiel Smith School was the first public school for free black children in Boston. In 1835, all black children in Boston were sent to this school. It replaced a smaller school that was in the basement of the African Meeting House. Today, the Abiel Smith School is a National Historic Landmark. It is also part of the Boston Black Heritage Trail. It is included in the Boston African American National Historic Site.
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History of the School
Early Education for Black Children
African-American parents in Boston started their own school in 1798. It first met in the home of Primus Hall. Later, when the African Meeting House was built, the school moved there. It used a classroom on the first floor.
The African-American community worked hard to get the city to support their school. In 1812, the city began to give some money. Abiel Smith, a kind white man, left money in his will. He wanted it used to educate black children. The city used some of his gift to build the Abiel Smith School. It was built right next to the African Meeting House. Richard Upjohn was chosen as the architect. He later became famous for designing churches.
A New School Building
When the school building was finished in 1835, all black children in Boston were assigned to it. This meant they no longer went to the basement school next door. At that time, many black families lived on the north side of Beacon Hill. Parents kept asking the city to make the school better. The conditions at the Abiel Smith School were not as good as those in white public schools.
Fighting for Equal Education
Thomas Dalton was an important leader. In 1834, he became president of the Infant School Association. This group supported the new Abiel Smith School. He helped black citizens in Boston elect people to the School Committee. These people would support equal rights and education for black children.
Dalton and others signed a petition. They asked the City of Boston for better schools for black children. He played a big part in the long fight to integrate Boston's schools. This meant allowing children of all races to attend the same schools.
In 1849, the Massachusetts Supreme Court made a ruling. They said that separate schools for different races were allowed. This was in a case called Roberts v. City of Boston. However, the fight for equality continued.
School Integration and Closure
Boston's schools finally became integrated in 1855. This happened after parents took their children out of the Smith School for a while. Benjamin F. Roberts also helped bring the issue to the state government. The Abiel Smith School closed the same year. This was because schools in Boston were no longer separated by race.
In the 1870s, many people moved to the South End of Boston. New schools and churches were started there.
Legacy
The old Abiel Smith School is now a National Historic Landmark. It is an important stop on the Boston Black Heritage Trail. Today, it is part of the Museum of African American History. After a renovation in 2000, it now serves as the museum's administrative offices. It is also part of the Boston African American National Historic Site.
Alumni
