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Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School

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The Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School (DIAS) was a school for African American students located in Downingtown, Chester County, Pennsylvania, from 1905 until 1993.[3] Its motto was "self help through self work".[4] It was located in what is now East Brandywine Township.[5][6]

Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School
Main building, c. 1907.[1] By 1910, this served as the girls' dormitory.[2]
Location
Map
Chester County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates40°01′34″N 75°44′42″W / 40.026°N 75.745°W / 40.026; -75.745
Information
Motto"self help through self work"
Established1905
FoundersJohn Sheppard Trower,
William Abraham Creditt
Closed1993

History

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The school was founded by John S. Trower and William Abraham Creditt. Both were well-known, successful African Americans from Philadelphia. Tower was a local businessman and Creditt was pastor of the city's first African Baptist church.[3]

The school's purpose was to provide vocational training.[7] By 1907, an illustrated report on the school was published showings the school's chapel, barn, dining room, and sewing room.[1][8] The school was included in Philadelphia's colored directory in 1910.[9]

The school was aimed at educating African-American youth that struggled with schooling.[10] In July 1912 the school announced that it would be sending fifteen graduates to Lincoln University that fall.[4]

James N. H. Waring Jr. (1890–1973), the son of a prominent physician, served as the school's principal in the 1930s.[11] Mortelia Womack, who worked as a secretary for W. E. B. Du Bois, applied for a job in the school in 1931 and Du Bois sent the school's principal, J. H. N. Waring, Jr., a reference for her.[12]

Howard D. Queen, a US Army colonel and commander of the 366th Infantry Regiment during World War II, served in the mathematics department after his military career.

In 1980, a thirty-six-page publication authored by Clay Griffin about the school was published.[13]

  • Founders of Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School
  •  
    William Abraham Creditt (c. 1913)
  •  
    John Sheppard Trower (c. 1911)

Legacy

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Delaware County Community College's Downingtown campus is on the site of the former school.[14]

Notable alumni include Cab Calloway, famous for, among other things, "Minnie the Moocher, or The Hi-De-Ho song."

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Parks, W. G. et al. (c. 1907). Statement of Scope, Condition, Purposes and Needs of Downingtown Industrial School, 1907–1908. Philadelphia: Press of Banner Publishing Company for Downingtown Industrial School. Courtesy of Ian Brabner, Rareamerica.com. OCLC 1105217145
  2. ^ "Downington Industrial and Agricultural School [advertisement]". The Philadelphia Colored Directory, 1910.
  3. ^ a b "Background Note". Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School Collection, Temple University Libraries.
  4. ^ a b "The Downington Industrial School". The Pittsburgh Courier, 5 July 1912.
  5. ^ "Downingtown Campus". Delaware County Community College. Retrieved 2021-06-18. Downingtown Campus 100 Bond Drive Downingtown, PA 19335[...]built on the site of the former Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School,[...]
  6. ^ "Street Map". East Brandywine Township. January 2010. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  7. ^ Blockson, Charles L. (1994). African Americans in Pennsylvania: A History and Guide. Baltimore, MD: Black Classic Press, 41.
  8. ^ "Statement of Scope, Condition, Purposes and Needs of Downingtown Industrial School, 1907-1908 by W G. Parks on Ian Brabner, Rare Americana, LLC ABAA". Ian Brabner, Rare Americana, LLC (ABAA).
  9. ^ "ExplorePAHistory.com - Image". explorepahistory.com.
  10. ^ Griffin, Clay (1980). Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School. Downingtown, PA: Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School. OCLC 992080215.
  11. ^ "Search results: Name:"Waring,%20James%20H.%20N.,%201890-1973"".
  12. ^ "Letter from the Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School to W. E. B. Du Bois, September 3, 1931". University of Massachusetts Amherst.
  13. ^ Griffin, Clay (September 22, 1980). "Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School". Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School – via Google Books.
  14. ^ "Downingtown Campus". Delaware County Community College.

Further reading

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