Normal School for Colored Girls
Encyclopedia
The Normal School for Colored Girls established in Washington, D.C.
in 1851, was an institution of learning and training
for young African-American women, especially so that they might become teacher
s. As Miner Normal School, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
with the encouragement from Henry Ward Beecher
and funding from a Quaker
philanthropist
after the school in Mississippi where she taught refused her permission to conduct classes for African American girls. While inappropriate today, the use of the term "colored" was considered polite in nineteenth century speech. However, some sources refer to the school as the "Miner School for Girls".
Although the school offered primary schooling and classes in domestic skills, its emphasis from the outset was on training teachers. Miner stressed hygiene
and nature study in addition to rigorous academic training.
Within two months of opening, school enrollment grew from six to forty. Despite hostility from a portion of the community, the school prospered with the help of continued contributions from Quakers and a gift from Harriet Beecher Stowe
(cousin of Beecher) of $1,000 of the royalties
she earned from Uncle Tom's Cabin
.
As it grew, the school was forced to move three times in its first two years, but in 1854 it settled on a 3 acre (1.2-hectare) lot with house and barn on the edge of the city. Around this time, Emily Edmonson
enrolled in the school. To help protect the school and those involved with it, the Edmonson family took up residence on the grounds and both Emily Edmonson and Myrtilla Miner learned to shoot
.
In 1856 the school came under the care of a board of trustees, among whom were Beecher and wealthy Quaker Johns Hopkins
. By 1858 six former students were teaching in schools of their own. By that time Miner's connection with the school had been lessened by her failing health and from 1857 Emily Howland
was in charge.
In 1860 the school had to be closed, and the next year Miner went to California in an attempt to regain her health. A carriage accident in 1864 ended that hope, and Miner died shortly after her return to Washington, D.C.
During the American Civil War
, on March 3, 1863, the United States Senate
granted the school a charter as the "Institution for the Education of Colored Youth" and named Henry Addison, John C. Underwood, George C. Abbott, William H. Channing
, Nancy M. Johnson, and Myrtella Miner as directors.
From 1871 to 1876 the school was associated with Howard University
, and in 1879, as "Miner Normal School", it became part of the District of Columbia public school system. In 1929, an act of the U.S. Congress
accredited it as "Miner Teachers College".
The current Colonial Revival
building was built in 1913, designed by Leon E. Dessez and Snowden Ashford
.
In 1955 the school merged with Wilson Teachers College to form the "District of Columbia Teachers College". In 1976, this was incorporated into the University of the District of Columbia
.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1851, was an institution of learning and training
Training
The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
for young African-American women, especially so that they might become teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s. As Miner Normal School, it is 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...
.
Background
The school was founded by Myrtilla MinerMyrtilla Miner
Myrtilla Miner was an American educator and abolitionist whose school for African Americans, established against considerable opposition, grew to a successful and long-lived teachers institution.Miner was educated at the Clover Street Seminary in Rochester, New York , and taught at various schools,...
with the encouragement from Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
and funding from a Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
after the school in Mississippi where she taught refused her permission to conduct classes for African American girls. While inappropriate today, the use of the term "colored" was considered polite in nineteenth century speech. However, some sources refer to the school as the "Miner School for Girls".
Although the school offered primary schooling and classes in domestic skills, its emphasis from the outset was on training teachers. Miner stressed hygiene
Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the set of practices perceived by a community to be associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between...
and nature study in addition to rigorous academic training.
Within two months of opening, school enrollment grew from six to forty. Despite hostility from a portion of the community, the school prospered with the help of continued contributions from Quakers and a gift from Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
(cousin of Beecher) of $1,000 of the royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
she earned from Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
.
As it grew, the school was forced to move three times in its first two years, but in 1854 it settled on a 3 acre (1.2-hectare) lot with house and barn on the edge of the city. Around this time, Emily Edmonson
Edmonson sisters
Mary Edmonson and Emily Edmonson , "two respectable young women of light complexion", were African-American women who became celebrities in the United States abolitionist movement after gaining their freedom from slavery...
enrolled in the school. To help protect the school and those involved with it, the Edmonson family took up residence on the grounds and both Emily Edmonson and Myrtilla Miner learned to shoot
Shooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
.
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins was a wealthy American entrepreneur, philanthropist and abolitionist of 19th-century Baltimore, Maryland, now most noted for his philanthropic creation of the institutions that bear his name, namely the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins University and its associated...
. By 1858 six former students were teaching in schools of their own. By that time Miner's connection with the school had been lessened by her failing health and from 1857 Emily Howland
Emily Howland
Emily Howland was a philanthropist and educator. An active abolitionist, Howland taught at Normal School for Colored Girls in Washington, D.C. from 1857 to 1859. During the Civil War she worked in Arlington, Virginia teaching freed slaves to read and write as well as administering to the sick...
was in charge.
In 1860 the school had to be closed, and the next year Miner went to California in an attempt to regain her health. A carriage accident in 1864 ended that hope, and Miner died shortly after her return to Washington, D.C.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, on March 3, 1863, the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
granted the school a charter as the "Institution for the Education of Colored Youth" and named Henry Addison, John C. Underwood, George C. Abbott, William H. Channing
William Henry Channing
William Henry Channing was an American Unitarian clergyman, writer and philosopher.-Biography:William Henry Channing was born in Boston, Massachusetts...
, Nancy M. Johnson, and Myrtella Miner as directors.
From 1871 to 1876 the school was associated with Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, and in 1879, as "Miner Normal School", it became part of the District of Columbia public school system. In 1929, an act of the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
accredited it as "Miner Teachers College".
The current Colonial Revival
Colonial Revival architecture
The Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
building was built in 1913, designed by Leon E. Dessez and Snowden Ashford
Snowden Ashford
Snowden Ashford was an American architect who worked in Washington, D.C.. The Washington Post characterized him as "Architect of the Everyday", and noted: "Ashford designed or supervised everything the District built between 1895 and 1921, including the North Hall at the Eastern Market...
.
In 1955 the school merged with Wilson Teachers College to form the "District of Columbia Teachers College". In 1976, this was incorporated into the University of the District of Columbia
University of the District of Columbia
The University of the District of Columbia is a historically black, public university located in Washington, D.C. UDC is one of only a few urban land-grant universities in the country and a member of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.