Dorchester Academy facts for kids
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Dorchester Academy Boys' Dormitory
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8787 East Oglethorpe Hwy, Midway, Georgia |
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| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | George Awsumb |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001371 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1986 |
| Designated NHL | September 20, 2006 |
Dorchester Academy was a special school for African Americans near Midway, Georgia. It operated from 1869 to 1940. Today, only the 1935 Dorchester Academy Boys' Dormitory building remains from the original campus.
This dormitory became very important later. From 1961 to 1970, it was the main place for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's (SCLC) Citizen Education Program. This program helped African Americans in the American South learn about their rights. It also taught them what they needed to know to pass tests and become registered voters.
The dormitory building was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2006. This was because of its key role in the American civil rights movement. It is also linked to the famous activist Septima Poinsette Clark, who led the education program. The campus now has a museum and a research center.
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What is Dorchester Academy?
The former Dorchester Academy campus is located at the corner of Lewis Fraser Road and East Oglethorpe Highway (United States Route 84). It is just west of Midway's city hall. The campus is built around the Midway Congregational Church.
The Dormitory Building
Facing East Oglethorpe Highway, there is a small concrete block cottage. This cottage now holds the main museum for the site. Behind it, facing Lewis Fraser Road, is the two-story boys' dormitory. This building is designed in the Georgian Revival style. It is the only building that survived after the academy closed in 1940. Other small structures on the site include a barbecue pit and the former swimming pool area.
History of the Academy
The American Missionary Association started Dorchester Academy in 1869. This group is a part of what is now the United Church of Christ. The school was created to educate African Americans who had recently gained freedom after the American Civil War.
Changes Over Time
Many of the academy's buildings were destroyed by fire in the 1930s. After the fires, the school was rebuilt. However, the school closed in 1940. Most of its buildings were then torn down, leaving only the 1935 boys' dormitory.
Role in the Civil Rights Movement
In 1961, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) started using the dormitory. It became the main office for their Citizenship Education Program. This program trained African Americans on how to use their civil rights effectively.
Septima Poinsette Clark, a very important activist, led this program. Martin Luther King Jr. even called her the "mother of the [Civil Rights] movement." She helped set up hundreds of education centers across the American South.
Famous Students
One notable student who attended Dorchester Academy was Sanford Augustus Brookins. He later became a well-known architect.
In 2009, the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed Dorchester Academy as one of America's Most Endangered Places.
Images for kids
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Front entrance
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Side entrance
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Academy historical marker
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Boy's Dorm historical marker
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Arch, by class of 1927
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Older building, around 1874
See also
