African Academy (Baltimore) facts for kids

The African Academy was a very important school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first permanent school for African American children in the city. The school was located on Sharp Street.

How the School Began

The idea for the African Academy started in 1797. A group of Black Methodists wanted to open a school. They got help from the Maryland Society for the Abolition of Slavery. This group worked to end slavery. Two brothers, Elisha Tyson and Jesse Tyson, were involved.

The first school opened on Saratoga Street. But it did not last long. After a few months, they had to close it. They did not have enough money to keep it going.

A New Start on Sharp Street

The school got a fresh start in 1802. This time, it had enough money. The African Methodist Episcopal Church and the African Academy were both set up on Sharp Street. This was done by the Colored Methodist Society.

Daniel Coker was a key person in the school's history. He was the head teacher, or headmaster, until 1817. In 1807, Daniel Coker also started another school. It was called the Bethel Charity School. This school was also supported by the Colored Methodist Society.

Children from Baltimore and even Washington, D.C. came to these schools. By the 1820s, about 150 students were attending.

Daniel Coker's Legacy

Daniel Coker was a founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a very important leader and teacher. In 1817, he became the pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. This church was on Saratoga Street. He continued to run the school from that location.

The church on Sharp Street was rebuilt in 1860. A new church building was later constructed in 1898. This beautiful church was built in a Gothic style. It was named the Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church and Community House. It is located on Dolphin and Etting Streets.