Boys High School
Encyclopedia
Boys High School is an historic and architecturally notable public school building in the Bedford–Stuyvesant, neighborhood of Brooklyn
, New York. It is regarded as "one of Brooklyn's finest buildings.
building is richly decorated in terracotta somewhat in the style of Louis Sullivan
. The building is admired for round corner tower, dormers, dormers, soaring campanile
.
The building was erected in 1891 on the west side of Marcy Avenue between Putnam Avenue and Madison Street. It was designed by James W. Naughton
, Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn. The building is regarded as Naughton's "finest work."
When Boys High was landmarked by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
in 1975, the commission called it "one of the finest Romanesque Revival style buildings in the city."
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on February 25, 1982.
to become Boys and Girls High School
. Boys and Girls High School immediately moved to a new building at Fulton Street
and Utica Avenue
. Notable Boys High alumni include Norman Mailer
, Isaac Asimov
, Congressman Emanuel Celler
, Aaron Copland
, basketball star Connie Hawkins
, and William Levitt
, developer of Levittown
.
The school was a college preparatory program with high academic standards. Congressman Emanuel Celler described Boys High in his autobiography, "I went to Boys' High School — naturally. I say "naturally" because Boys' High School then, as now, was the high school of scholarships. Boys of Brooklyn today will tell you, "It's a hard school." It was highly competitive..."
Another Boys High graduated remembered that "I went to Boys High School in Brooklyn, a great school. It was out of the classic tradition. I guess eighty percent of the student body had to take Latin — we didn't have to; we elected Latin, because we felt it was expected of us.."
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York. It is regarded as "one of Brooklyn's finest buildings.
Architecture
The "splendid" Romanesque RevivalRomanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
building is richly decorated in terracotta somewhat in the style of Louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
. The building is admired for round corner tower, dormers, dormers, soaring campanile
Campanile
Campanile is an Italian word meaning "bell tower" . The term applies to bell towers which are either part of a larger building or free-standing, although in American English, the latter meaning has become prevalent.The most famous campanile is probably the Leaning Tower of Pisa...
.
The building was erected in 1891 on the west side of Marcy Avenue between Putnam Avenue and Madison Street. It was designed by James W. Naughton
James W. Naughton
James W. Naughton was an American architect, the Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn. He was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in 1848, at age eight. He worked as an apprentice in the office of J & A Douglas in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ...
, Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the City of Brooklyn. The building is regarded as Naughton's "finest work."
When Boys High was landmarked by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The Commission was created in April 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner following the destruction of Pennsylvania Station the previous year to make way for...
in 1975, the commission called it "one of the finest Romanesque Revival style buildings in the city."
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on February 25, 1982.
School
In 1975, the same year the building was landmarked, Boys High merged with Girls High SchoolGirls High School
Girls' High School is an historically and architecturally notable public secondary school building located at 475 Nostrand Avenue in the Bedford–Stuyvesant, neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. It was built in 1886 and is the oldest public high school building in New York City that is still...
to become Boys and Girls High School
Boys and Girls High School
Boys and Girls High School, the oldest public high school in Brooklyn, is a comprehensive high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York...
. Boys and Girls High School immediately moved to a new building at Fulton Street
Fulton Street
-New Orleans:Fulton Street is a pedestrian mall in the New Orleans Central Business District.-New York City:In New York City, the name is frequently associated with Robert Fulton, who invented a steam boat...
and Utica Avenue
Utica Avenue
Utica Avenue is a major avenue in Brooklyn, New York, one of several named for cities in Upstate New York. It runs north–south with its south end at Flatbush Avenue, and is continued by Malcolm X Boulevard in Bedford-Stuyvesant north of Eastern Parkway....
. Notable Boys High alumni include Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
, Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
, Congressman Emanuel Celler
Emanuel Celler
Emanuel Celler was an American politician from New York who served in the United States House of Representatives for almost 50 years, from March 1923 to January 1973. He was a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
, Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
, basketball star Connie Hawkins
Connie Hawkins
Cornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend...
, and William Levitt
William Levitt
William Jaird Levitt was an American real-estate developer widely credited as the father of modern American suburbia. He came to symbolize the new suburban growth with his use of mass-production techniques to construct large developments of houses selling for under $10,000...
, developer of Levittown
Levittown, New York
Levittown is a hamlet in the Town of Hempstead located on Long Island in Nassau County, New York. Levittown is midway between the villages of Hempstead and Farmingdale. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 51,881....
.
The school was a college preparatory program with high academic standards. Congressman Emanuel Celler described Boys High in his autobiography, "I went to Boys' High School — naturally. I say "naturally" because Boys' High School then, as now, was the high school of scholarships. Boys of Brooklyn today will tell you, "It's a hard school." It was highly competitive..."
Another Boys High graduated remembered that "I went to Boys High School in Brooklyn, a great school. It was out of the classic tradition. I guess eighty percent of the student body had to take Latin — we didn't have to; we elected Latin, because we felt it was expected of us.."
Notable alumni
- Isaac AsimovIsaac AsimovIsaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
(1920–92), author - Jules BenderJules BenderJules Bender was an American collegiate and professional basketball player. He was an All-American at Long Island University, leading the Blackbirds to a 103-6 record over his career....
(1914–82), collegiate and professional basketball player - Emanuel CellerEmanuel CellerEmanuel Celler was an American politician from New York who served in the United States House of Representatives for almost 50 years, from March 1923 to January 1973. He was a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life:...
(1888–1981), served in the United States House of Representatives for almost 50 years - Aaron CoplandAaron CoplandAaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
(1900–90), classical composer, composition teacher, writer, and conductor - Mel DavisMel DavisMelvyn Jerome Davis is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'6" forward from St. John's University, Davis played four seasons in the National Basketball Association as a member of the New York Knicks and New York Nets...
(born 1950), professional basketball player - Tommy DavisTommy DavisHerman Thomas Davis, Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball left fielder and third baseman. He played from 1959-1976 for ten different teams, but he is best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During an 18-year baseball career, Davis batted .294 with 153 home runs, 2,121...
(born 1939), Major League Baseball player - I.A.L. Diamond (1920– 88), comedy writer
- Martin DobelleMartin DobelleMartin Dobelle was a veteran orthopedic surgeon.Born in New York City December 25, 1906, the son of Harry and Ida Kaplan Dobelle, he grew up in Brooklyn, New York. An alumnus of Boys High School, he received a track and field scholarship to and graduated from Fordham University in 1926 where he...
(1906–86), orthopedic surgeon - Hal DraperHal DraperHal Draper was an American socialist activist and author who played a significant role in the Berkeley, California, Free Speech Movement and is perhaps best known for his extensive scholarship on the history and meaning of the thought of Karl Marx.Draper was a lifelong advocate of what he called...
(born Harold Dubinsky, 1914–90), socialist activist and author - Ted Draper (1912–2006), historian and political writer
- Leon Festinger (1919–89), social psychologist
- Alfred GottschalkAlfred GottschalkAlfred Gottschalk may refer to:*Alfred Gottschalk , , glycoprotein researcher*Alfred Gottschalk , , President of Hebrew Union College...
(1930–2009), Rabbi who was a leader in the Reform Judaism movement - Si Green (1933–80), professional basketball player
- Connie HawkinsConnie HawkinsCornelius L. Hawkins is a former National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association player, Harlem Globetrotter and New York City playground legend...
, Basketball Hall of Famer - W. Langdon KihnW. Langdon KihnWilfred Langdon Kihn was a portrait painter and illustrator specializing in portraits of American Indians.He was born in Brooklyn, New York, son of Alfred Charles Kihn and Carrie Lowe Kihn...
(1898–1957), portrait painter and illustrator - Man RayMan RayMan Ray , born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal...
(1890–1976), born Emmanuel Radnitzky, artist - Morris KlineMorris KlineMorris Kline was a Professor of Mathematics, a writer on the history, philosophy, and teaching of mathematics, and also a popularizer of mathematical subjects.Kline grew up in Brooklyn and in Jamaica, Queens...
(1908–92), Professor of Mathematics - Norman MailerNorman MailerNorman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
(1923 –2007), novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director - Mickey MarcusMickey MarcusDavid Daniel "Mickey" Marcus was a United States Army colonel who assisted Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and who became Israel's first general . He was killed by friendly fire, when he was mistaken for an enemy infiltrator while returning to Israeli positions at night.Marcus is the best...
(1901–48), US Army colonel who became Israel's first general - Abraham MaslowAbraham MaslowAbraham Harold Maslow was an American professor of psychology at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research and Columbia University who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
(1908–70), professor of psychology - Will MaslowWill MaslowWill Maslow was an American lawyer and civil rights leader who fought for full equality in a free society for Jews, blacks, and other minorities at positions he held in government and as an executive of the American Jewish Congress.-History:Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Maslow came to the United States...
(1907–2007), lawyer and civil rights leader - Irv Mondschein, American track and field champion
- Max RoachMax RoachMaxwell Lemuel "Max" Roach was an American jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer.A pioneer of bebop, Roach went on to work in many other styles of music, and is generally considered alongside the most important drummers in history...
(1924–2007), jazz percussionist, drummer, and composer - Allie ShermanAllie ShermanAlexander "Allie" Sherman is a retired American football National Football League running back and head coach....
, NFL football player and coach - Alexander S. WienerAlexander S. WienerAlexander Solomon Wiener , a lifelong resident of New York City, was recognized internationally for his contributions to medicine. He was an outstanding leader in the fields of forensic medicine, serology, and immunogenetics. His pioneer work led to discovery of the Rh factor in 1937, along with Dr...
(1907–76), leader in the fields of forensic medicine, serology, and immunogenetics