Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School

The Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School (DIAS) was a school for African Americans in 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]

Main building, c. 1907.[1] By 1910 this served as the girls' dormitory.[2]

History

The school was founded by John S. Trower and William A. 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.[10] In July 1912 the school announced that it would be sending 15 graduates to Lincoln University that Fall.[4] James H. N. Waring (1890 - 1973) served as the school's principal.[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]

In 1980, a thirty-six-page publication about the school was printed.[13]

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

Legacy

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

See also

References
  1. 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. "Background Note". Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School Collection, Temple University Libraries.
  4. "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

40.026°N 75.745°W / 40.026; -75.745

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