Dorchester Academy Facts for Kids

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Dorchester Academy Boys' Dormitory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark


Location in Georgia (U.S. state) Show map of Georgia (U.S. state) Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	8787 East Oglethorpe Hwy, Midway, Georgia
Built	1935
Architect	George Awsumb
Architectural style	Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.	86001371
Added to NRHP	June 23, 1986
Designated NHL	September 20, 2006

Dorchester Academy was a special school for African Americans. It was located near Midway, Georgia. The school operated from 1869 to 1940. Today, only the Dorchester Academy Boys' Dormitory building, built in 1935, remains.

This dormitory became very important during the American civil rights movement. From 1961 to 1970, it was the main place for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's Citizen Education Program. This program helped African Americans learn about their rights. It also taught them how to pass the tests needed to become registered voters. The dormitory was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2006. This was because of its role in the Civil Rights Movement. It is also linked to a famous activist named Septima Poinsette Clark, who led the education program. Today, the campus is a museum and a place for research.

What is Dorchester Academy?
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What is Dorchester Academy?

The Dorchester Academy campus is found at the corner of Lewis Fraser Road and East Oglethorpe Highway. This is also United States Route 84. It is a short distance west of Midway's city hall. The campus is built around the Midway Congregational Church. This church stands right on the street corner.

A small concrete building faces East Oglethorpe Highway. This building now holds the main museum for the site. Behind it, facing Lewis Fraser Road, is the two-story boys' dormitory. This building has a style called Georgian Revival. It is the only building left from the original academy after it closed in 1940. Other small structures on the site include a barbecue pit and the former swimming pool area.

The School's Beginning

The Dorchester Academy was started in 1869. It was founded by the American Missionary Association. This group is now part of the United Church of Christ. The school was created to educate African Americans who had recently become free. This was after the American Civil War. Many of the school's buildings were destroyed by fire in the 1930s. The campus was then rebuilt.

The school officially closed in 1940. Most of the buildings that were still standing were torn down. Only the boys' dormitory, built in 1935, remained.

A Hub for Civil Rights

In 1961, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) started using the dormitory. They made it the main office for their Citizenship Education Program. This program was very important. It trained African Americans on how to use their civil rights effectively.

A famous activist named Septima Poinsette Clark led this program. Martin Luther King Jr. called her the "mother of the [Civil Rights] movement." She helped set up hundreds of education centers across the American South. These centers taught people how to read, write, and understand their rights. This helped many people register to vote.

Notable People and Recognition

One important person who attended Dorchester Academy was the architect Sanford Augustus Brookins.

In 2009, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Dorchester Academy on its list of America's Most Endangered Places. This means it was considered a very important historical site that needed protection.