Since 1800 there have been no less than 20 different schools in the West End. Shortly after Urban Renewal the last school in the West End, the Peter Faneuil School closed in 1975, there have not been any public schools in the West End or Beacon Hill since. The exhibit features graphic story panels, artifacts, photos, report cards, text books, etc.
The West End was the home of many firsts, English High School, one of the first public high schools in America opened in 1821, the Abiel Smith School was the first building built as a public school for African Americans in the country, the Phillips School became one of the first integrated schools in Boston in 1855, the kindergarten program which started at the Somerset School predates the claim of Susan Bows St Louis kindergarten as the first in the country (1873).
There were the notable students and teachers, Martin Lomasney dropped out of the Mayhew School to become a legendary Boston politician, while Leonard Nimoy graduated the Mayhew school and went on to become a legendary actor. Abiel school graduate and noted abolitionist William Cooper Nell was denied the Franklin Medal given to top student graduates because of the color of his skin; subsequently, he fought endlessly for desegregated education until Boston Public schools were integrated in 1955. “The impression made on my mind deepened into a solemn vow that God helping me, I would do my best to hasten the day when color of the skin would be no barrier to equal school rights.” Quote William Cooper Nell. Lowell Mason, a music teacher at the Bowdoin school wrote over 1000 songs and hymns, among them “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Joy to the World”.
The exhibit opens on January 19th, and will run through July 9th.
