Nannie Helen Burroughs School facts for kids
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Trades Hall of National Training School for Women and Girls
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The 1928 Trades Hall building
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
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| Location | 601 50th St., NE., Washington, D.C. |
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| Area | less than one acre (landmarked area) |
| Architect | Thomas M. Medford |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 91002049 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1991 |
| Designated NHL | July 17, 1991 |
The Nannie Helen Burroughs School was once called the National Training School for Women and Girls. It was a private school in Washington, D.C. that taught both boys and girls. Nannie Helen Burroughs started the school in 1909. It was first known as The National Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls, Inc.
This school was special because it was the first in the country to offer vocational training for African-American girls. At that time, these girls often had very few chances for education. The Trades Hall building, built in 1928, is the oldest building on the campus. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1991. Today, the property is home to the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the Monroe School. The Monroe School is a private high school that continues Nannie Helen Burroughs' important work.
Contents
Exploring the School Campus
The former Nannie Helen Burroughs School property covers about 6 acres. It is located at the corner of 50th Street NE and Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE. There are four buildings on this hilly campus. The 1928 Trades Hall is the building furthest to the east.
The largest building on the campus was built in 1971. It now houses the Monroe School. The Trades Hall building is now used for the offices of the Progressive Baptist National Conference. It is a two-story brick building. It looks like two stories from the front but only one from the back because it is built into a hillside. The building has light-colored bricks with dark brick details. A special line of bricks separates the two floors. This building was constructed between 1927 and 1928. Mary McLeod Bethune, a famous educator, spoke at its opening ceremony.
A Look Back: The School's History
In 1908, Nannie Helen Burroughs started the National Trade and Professional School for Women and Girls. This was one of the first schools in the country to offer job training for African-American girls and women. The school officially opened its doors on October 19, 1909.
The school taught skills like cooking and sewing. It also offered various job training programs and religious lessons. It was unique because it was the first school to offer all these services in one place. The school also had a stronger focus on regular school subjects than other schools for African Americans at the time. Many other schools mainly focused on job training.
The National Baptist Convention supported the school. It was also completely funded and managed by African-Americans. Students came from many different states, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. Some even came from as far away as South America and Africa.
The school added more job training programs in the 1920s. It closed for a short time in 1953 but soon reopened. Nannie Helen Burroughs led the school until she passed away in 1961. In 1964, the school was renamed in her honor. Today, The Monroe School, Inc. continues her work. It operates in the 1971 school building on the campus. The original Trade School building now holds the offices of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Notable Former Students
Here are some well-known people who attended the school:
- Agnes Nebo von Ballmoos – A professor of music, scholar, conductor, composer, and lawyer from Liberia.
- Ethel Moses – An actress and dancer.
- Sue Bailey Thurman – An author, speaker, historian, and civil rights activist.
- Samira Wiley - An actress.
See also
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Northeast Quadrant, Washington, D.C.
Images for kids
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The 1971 school building
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A vocational class at the school (before 1930).
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