Colored School, Taylor Mission School Building
Life Span: June, 1863-April, 1865.
Location: Corner of Fourth Avenue and Taylor street
Architect: TBD
Chicago Daily Tribune, February 2, 1858
Meeting of the Board of Education, Jan. 30, 1858
Mr. Higginson offered the following resolution:
Whereas, In schedule No. 1 and 2 there are enrolled about 100 colored persons; and, whereas, many white children are excluded from attendance in said schools by reason of the great number of children who seek admission—for the purpose of accommodating the children in said district, therefore,
Resolved, That this Board recommend to the Common Council, that they provide suitable separate accommodations for the colored children, that they may receive all the advantages of education which can be obtained in the common schools of our city.
The resolution was adopted by the following vote:
Yeas—Mesers. Moseley, Foster, Higginson, Hoard, Brooks, Mcllroy and Ward—7.
Nays—Mesers. Haven, Carpenter, Dore, Baumann and Brewster—5.
Dr. Foster moved to reconsider the resolution in relation to colored children.
The yeas and nays being called for, the resolution was reconsidered.
Yeas—Messrs. Haven, Foster, Higginson, Carpenter, Dore and Brewster-6,
Nays—Messrs.—Moseley, Hoard, Brooks, and Ward-4.
On motion of Dr. Foster, the resolution was laid on the table till the next meeting of the Board.
Mr. Dore moved that the principals of Schools Nos. 1 and 2 be directed to seat the colored children at these schools by themselves, keeping the sexes separate heretofore.
Not carried.
Chicago Tribune, June 10, 1863
THE NEW COLORED SCHOOL.
The committee further reported that they had procured the Mission School, corner of Fourth Avenue and Taylor street, for the colored school, which would accommodate 300 pupils. Mr. S. D. Ward was in charge of the building and would let the use of it at $100 per annum. There were at present 123 colored children in the schools, as follows: Dearborn, 25; Jones, 70; Scammon, 4; Kinzie, 0; Washington, 2; Moseley, 1; Brown, 2; Foster, 5; Ogden, 2 Newberry, 0; Skinner, 7; Haven, 5; so that the building was amply large to accommodate these scholars.
Chicago Tribune, November 5, 1863
Board of Education.
Tbe subject of teachers In tho colored school came np, having reference to tbe necessity of retaining Miss Mann, a colored teacher, as an assistant to Miss Beecher, the regular teacher. The discussion upon this subject, which took a wide range, and occupied considerable time, was participated in by Messrs. Moseley, Wentworth, Carpenter, Wicker and others, and embraced the merits of colored teachers generally, as compared with white ones, in colored schools, particularly in their relation to the scholars.
Mr. Moseley offered a resolution that the services of Miss Mann be dispensed with in the colored school, and that when the number of scholars reaches seventy five, that the committee be authorized to employ a white assistant.
An endorsement was offered, “that when the number of scholars in attendance at the colored school reaches seventy, the Committee be authorized to employ a white assistant.”
Mr. Taft offered an amendment that “sixty” be substituted for “seventy,” and it was carried.
Mr. Carpenter offered a further amendment, to strike out the word white, which was carried as follows:
Ayes—Messrs. Carpenter, Holden, Prindiville, Ryder, Steele, Taft, Wentworth—7.
Noes—Messrs, Foster, Newberry, Sheahan, Wicker—4.
Mr. Holden offered a resolution that an assistant be appointed at once, but it was. subsequent withdrawn. .
Chicago Tribune, April 1, 1864
A Colored School.—The most persistent believer in “negro want of energy” views, would bare acknowledged that his opinions were fallacious had he been present at a meeting held last evening at No. 610 West Lake street. It was the last meeting for the season of a colored evening school which has been in session during the past winter. The school was commenced two years ago by the colored people themselves, who, feeling their total ignorance, determined to secure the services of a competent white instructor. They were fortunate in obtaining as a teacher Mr. Theodore J. Elimore, under whose tuition they have progressed wonderfully in the rudiments of a thorough English education. The first winter the actual was only open for eighteen weeks, but this year it has been in session for more than six months. It has been held in rooms provided by the scholars themselves, who also find their own books. When the school was first organized, the pupils were all totally ignorant of the very meaning of letters; now they can all read fluently and write better than a great number of their white brethren, besides which, they have a good idea of the country and its history.
Chicago Tribune, October 6, 1864
COLORED CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Protest Against Their Exclusion—Meeting of Colored Citizens.
A meeting of colored citizens of Chicago wis held in Quinn’a Chapel on Thursday evening last, for the purpose of protesting against the action of the Board of Education, in their unjust discrimination in preventing the children of color from attending the public schools. The meeting was organized by appointing Henry Bradford to the Chair. *
The Chairman having stated the object of the meeting, Mr. L. B. White was appointed Secretary. On motion a committee of three was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting. The said committee consisted of the following gentlemen: Messrs. Stanley, Baker and Carey. During the absence of the committee, the meeting was addressed by Messrs. John Jones, L. B. White, R. M. Hancock and others.
The committee having returned, Mr. Stanley, the chairman of the committee, made the following report, which was received and adopted alter animated discussion, which drew out expressions of indignation from those present.
Whereas, The Board of Education having at its last meeting adopted the following resolution on motion of Inspector Sheahan:
Resolved, That the Superintendent be directed to inquire and report to this Board, at the next meeting, whether there are any persons of African blood In attendance at any of the public schools, other that at the colored school; and, if there be any such cases, that bo report the circumstances of their admission and of their continuance in said schools.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That we consider this act as bat a forerunner to the time when colored children will be entirely excluded from tbe public schools.
Resolved, That we consider the course pursued by Inspector Sheahan to be gross in its tendency, and uncharitable in its purpose, calculated to retain the moral and intellectual progress of the colored youth, and brand them with degradation.
Resolved, That as we pay taxes in common with our fellow-citizens, we claim equal school privileges.
Resolved, That Inspector Sheahan’s resolution is impracticable tor the reason that it is out of the power of the Board of Education to determine what amount of African blood a child may possess.
Resolved, That we are bitterly opposed to separate school organizations, for the reason that it fosters a prejudice in the mind of the child which is difficult to eradicate.
Resolved, That we request the Board of Education to dispense with the colored school, and that they admit the children into the several schools without distinction.
Resolved, That we are citizens and are recognized by the Government as such, and are now in conjunction with our white fellow-citizens as soldiers, fighting for those rights of which we are denied.
Resolved, That we will petition the State Legislature at its next session to repeal the Black Laws, which now deprive the colored man of those rights that belong to every citizen.
Resolved, That the daily papers be requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting.
The meeting then adjourned.
Chicago Tribune, October 15, 1864
Colored School.—The fall term of the Washington avenue Colored School will commence Monday evening, Oct. 17th, at their rooms on Washington avenue, second door east of Paulina street. Sessions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings each week. day evenings of each week.
- Colored School
Taylor and Fourth Avenue (Griswold)
1862
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