Frelinghuysen University facts for kids
| Type | private |
|---|---|
| Established | 1906, 1917 |
| President | Anna Julia Cooper |
| Location |
,
,
U.S.
|
| Campus | Urban |
|
Frelinghuysen University, Former Classroom Building
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Washington, D.C.
|
|
| Location | 1800 Vermont Ave., NW Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1879 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Part of | Greater U Street Historic District (ID98001557) |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001228 |
| Added to NRHP | November 6, 1995 |
Frelinghuysen University was a special school in Washington, D.C.. It was created to help "Colored Adults" learn and grow. The university wanted to give working people who were older than typical school age a chance to get an education. Its classes were held after regular work hours, making it easy for adults to attend.
Contents
History of Frelinghuysen University
The story of Frelinghuysen University began in 1906. A group called the Bible Educational Association started a branch in Washington. It met at the home of Jesse Lawson and Rosetta Lawson. Kelly Miller was chosen to be its first president.
At the same time, the Inter-Denominational Bible College was also started. Jesse Lawson became its president. In 1917, these two groups joined together. They formed Frelinghuysen University.
Who Was Frelinghuysen?
The university was named after Frederick T. Frelinghuysen. He was a senator from New Jersey. Senator Frelinghuysen worked with Senator Charles Sumner from Massachusetts. They both helped promote civil rights during a time called Reconstruction. Later, Frelinghuysen also served as the United States Secretary of State.
What Was the School's Goal?
The main goal of Frelinghuysen University was to educate African-American working adults. It offered classes in many subjects. These included academic studies, job skills (vocational training), and religious education.
Where Did the School Meet?
For its first few years, the university did not have its own building. Classes were held in private homes and businesses around Washington. In 1921, the school got its first permanent home. This was the Goodwin House. The university stayed there until 1927.
In 1927, Frelinghuysen University moved to a bigger building. But the payments for this building were too high. So, the university moved again. It moved to the home of its president, Anna J. Cooper. She gave her home to the university, which helped them a lot.
Accreditation and Decline
Starting in 1927, Frelinghuysen University was officially recognized. This meant it could give out degrees. It continued to do so until 1937. After that, the school lost its official recognition. Its name was changed to the Frelinghuysen Group of Schools for Colored Working People. The school slowly became smaller and eventually closed in the 1950s.
The Edwin P. Goodwin House
The Edwin P. Goodwin House was the first permanent building for Frelinghuysen University. It is also known as the Former Classroom Building. This historic building is located in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it is an important historical site.
Building Details
Diller B. Groff built the house in 1879. It was built for Edwin P. Goodwin, who was an insurance agent. The building has two stories and is made of brick. It is built in the Queen Anne architectural style.
The house has a unique triangular shape. It also has an eight-sided tower on one corner. Other cool features include decorative brickwork called corbelling. It also has a patterned slate roof and fancy iron decorations called finials.
Archival Material
If you want to learn more about Frelinghuysen University, you can! Howard University has a collection of items from Anna J. Cooper about the school. They have even put these items online for everyone to see: Howard University Digital Collection.
