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New-York African Free-School records

Call Number

MS 747

Date

1817-1832, inclusive

Creator

New-York African Free-School

Extent

0.5 Linear feet 4 volumes on 2 microfilm reels

Language of Materials

The documents in this collection are in English.

Abstract

This collection covers the latter portion of the existence of the African Free-Schools, founded by the New-York Manumission Society, to help prepare black children for lives as free men and women. The records end two years before oversight of the schools was transferred to the Public School Society. They relate to classroom observation, student performance, behavior and promotions, as well as examples of lessons and student work.

Historical Note

In order to further the objectives of its organization, the New-York Manumission Society founded the New-York African Free-School in 1787. Since the school was devoted to the education of black boys and girls as preparation for life as free citizens, it was an important extension of the Manumission Society's efforts to lobby for the abolition of slavery and manumission of New York slaves, and to advocate on behalf of those already freed.

Beginning with a single schoolhouse on Cliff Street (that would burn down in 1814), the African Free-School ultimately boasted seven school buildings around the city. The schools employed the Lancasterian system of education, with a broad, practically based curriculum, covering standards such as reading, writing, penmanship, grammar and arithmetic, as well as religion, sciences, geography and after 1791, needlework. Blacks were represented on its staff, which included John Teasman, who served both as a teacher and later as principal of the school.

As the New-York Manumission Society's role ebbed with the end of slavery in New York, it eventually turned the African Free-Schools over to the New York Public School Society in 1834. All the schools subsequently became fully part of the public school system thirteen years later in 1847.

Operating from the belief that education would be an essential component in helping blacks to improve their position in American society, the school played a significant role in producing new leadership from within the New York black community. Although black Americans were often blocked from becoming skilled tradesmen, its graduates still represented many of the most important and influential African-American figures of the period. They entered into careers in medicine, the clergy, scholarship, abolitionism, theater and business. Among some of the better known students are: Alexander Crummell, Peter Guignon, Iris Aldridge, James McCune Smith, Samuel Ringgold Ward, Peter Williams and Patrick Reason.

Arrangement

The physical records are bound and arranged by type of documentation. The microfilm is arranged by volume number.

Scope and Contents

These records cover the latter portion of the African Free-Schools' existence, ending two years before oversight for the schools was transferred to the Public School Society. They relate to classroom observation, student performance, behavior and promotions, as well as examples of lessons and student work.

The records comprise four volumes. The first includes regulations, by-laws, and reports, from 1817 to 1832. The regulations are for the formate of the school's examination procedures, while the reports give numbers of students promoted for each quarter. These are limited to school No. 1. A substantive portion of the volume is also made up of observations of the visting committee, giving their impressions of the progress being made, along with the behavior and organization of the classroom and students.

The second volume is also filled with reports and observations of the visiting committee, but these are limited to school No. 2, and cover 1820 to 1831. Added to the closing pages of the volume are several pages of lessons on adding, subtracting and division of money, with examples.

The third volume includes extracts, compositions, addresses and pieces spoken at public examinations for 1818 to 1826, but early pages do include some material on promotions.

The fourth volume compliments the third with penmanship and drawing studies by the students (1816-1826). Of particular interest are copies of the speech given by James McCune Smith on the occasion of the Marquis de La Fayette's visit to New York in 1824.

While there is little, if any, information on individuals in the first two volumes, attributions are often given for the material appearing in volumes three and four.

Access Restrictions

The New-York African Free School records are digitized and available in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Library.

Researchers on site may also consult the microfilmed version, from which they may print unlimited copies at per-exposure rates. See guidelines in Reading room for details.

Use Restrictions

Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.

Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.

Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions

Preferred Citation

This collection should be cited as BV African Free-School, MS 747, the New-York Historical Society.

Location of Materials

The New-York African Free School records are digitized and available in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Library. The physical volumes may be stored offsite. For more information, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.

Related Materials

As a result of an N-YHS project, with support from the Russell Sage Foundation, the fourth volume of New-York African Free School Records is available in electronic format (African Free School Voume 4 ). The site includes color images of students' work as well as contextual information about the school and individuals involved in its operation.

Further material on the New-York African Free-School can also be found in the New-York Manumission Society Records (BV Manumission Society).

Existence and Location of Copies

Digital copies are available in the Shelby White and Leon Levy Digital Library.

Collection processed by

Ted O'Reilly

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-08-21 15:46:34 -0400.
Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language: Description is in English.

Repository

New-York Historical Society
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024