Slater Fund
Encyclopedia
The John F. Slater Fund for the Education of Freedmen was created in the United States
in 1882 for the encouragement of industrial education among negro
es in the South
.
The majority of blacks still lived in rural areas and had to attend segregated
public schools, which were typically underfunded by the white Democrat
-dominated state legislatures. With an economy chiefly based on agriculture, the South was struggling to recover from losses during the American Civil War
, and funds for public services were limited.
In May 1882 Mr. Slater
transferred $1,000,000 to a board of trustees incorporated by the State of New York. Bishop Haygood
, Dr. J. L. M. Curry
, Dr. Wallace Buttrick, and Dr. James H. Dillard
were general agents of the fund. The contemporary Peabody Education Fund
had been restricted to support existing schools in the South (by definition for whites only, as no public schools for freedmen existed before the Civil War and public schools were limited after Reconstruction.) Instead, the Slater Fund contributed to schools which provided the education of colored
students.
(See also Rosenwald Fund
)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1882 for the encouragement of industrial education among negro
Negro
The word Negro is used in the English-speaking world to refer to a person of black ancestry or appearance, whether of African descent or not...
es in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
The majority of blacks still lived in rural areas and had to attend segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
public schools, which were typically underfunded by the white Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
-dominated state legislatures. With an economy chiefly based on agriculture, the South was struggling to recover from losses during the American Civil War
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...
, and funds for public services were limited.
In May 1882 Mr. Slater
John Fox Slater
John Fox Slater , United States philanthropist known for assisting in the education of emancipated African American slaves.-Early life and career:...
transferred $1,000,000 to a board of trustees incorporated by the State of New York. Bishop Haygood
Atticus Green Haygood
Atticus Greene Haygood was an American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.-Biography:He was born in Watkinsville, Ga. and graduated at Emory College in 1859. He entered the ministry where he edited the Sunday-school publications of the Southern branch of the church...
, Dr. J. L. M. Curry
Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry
Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry was a lawyer, soldier, U.S. Congressman, college professor and administrator, diplomat, and officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, Dr. Wallace Buttrick, and Dr. James H. Dillard
James H. Dillard
James Hardy Dillard was Caucasian educator who dedicated his life to serving African Americans. He was an administrator and teacher at Tulane University and trustee of the two major black colleges in the New Orleans area. As president of the New Orleans public library, he promoted the...
were general agents of the fund. The contemporary Peabody Education Fund
Peabody Education Fund
Founded of necessity due to damage caused largely by the American Civil War, the Peabody Education Fund was established by George Peabody in 1867 for the purpose of promoting "intellectual, moral, and industrial education in the most destitute portion of the Southern States." The gift of...
had been restricted to support existing schools in the South (by definition for whites only, as no public schools for freedmen existed before the Civil War and public schools were limited after Reconstruction.) Instead, the Slater Fund contributed to schools which provided the education of colored
Colored
Colored is a term once widely used in the United States to describe black people and Native Americans...
students.
(See also Rosenwald Fund
Rosenwald Fund
The Rosenwald Fund was established in 1917 by Julius Rosenwald and his family for "the well-being of mankind."...
)
Further reading
- L. P. Ayres, Seven Great Foundations (New York, 1911)
- Reports of the United States Commissioner of Education, published annually (Washington, D. C.)