Abraham Lincoln School facts for kids

The Abraham Lincoln School was a special school that opened on October 3, 1865, in New Orleans. It was created for freed people (people who had been enslaved) right after the American Civil War. The school was located on the campus of the University of Louisiana, which later became Tulane University. It was even featured on the cover of a famous magazine called Harper's Weekly, showing its importance at the time.

What Was the Abraham Lincoln School?

The Abraham Lincoln School was one of many schools set up to help formerly enslaved people get an education. After the Civil War, many people who had been enslaved were finally free, but they often didn't have access to schools. This school aimed to provide them with learning opportunities.

How the School Started

The school began under the guidance of Reverend Thomas W. Conway. He was an assistant commissioner for the Freedmen's Bureau. This was a government agency created to help formerly enslaved people and poor white people in the South after the war.

At first, attending the Abraham Lincoln School was completely free. This helped many students to enroll. About 750 students joined when it first opened. The school had 14 teachers ready to educate them.

Who Attended and Taught?

When the school first opened, it was very popular because it was free. However, when the school started charging a small fee for tuition, about half of the students left. This shows how important free education was for these families.

The first principal of the school was Mr. E.F. Waven, who was a graduate of Yale University from New York. Later, M.A. Warren took over as principal. The school played an important role in providing education during a challenging time in American history.

Images for kids

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  The Abraham Lincoln School in New Orleans, featured on the cover of Harper's Weekly in 1866.