BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

Place of first school

School in loft of the meeting house

Various items on buildings and grounds occupy a considerable amount of attention on the part of the monthly meeting though the minutes are usually of general nature. The place of Keith’s school (1689) was doubtless no more than an ordinary house procured for the use of his family and the school at the same time.[249] This proved satisfactory only for a short time, and to remedy Keith’s complaint (1690)[250] of its “straightness” another more convenient room was arranged for by the committee with John Fuller for the rent of £13 a year. The former had cost but ten.[251] It is likely that the school continued to be held in the same house, others similarly, for about seven years; there is, at any rate, no mention of change of place or location for that period of time. At the end of that time the meeting made preparation to receive the school into the “inner chamber over the meeting house,” the expense of fitting it up being paid out of the meeting’s stock.[252] It was in this school in the loft of the meeting house that Daniel Pastorius and Thomas Makin first taught the school together.[253] The meeting house served thus as schoolhouse until early in the year 1698, when property was purchased for the purpose, the meeting minute of the transaction being as follows:

Property purchased for the Public School

Whereas Friends have purchased an house and lot of Lionell Brittain for the service of the public schools, according to that has already been agreed to by this meeting, and the said purchase is approved, and David Lloyd is desired to draw the writings for confirmation of the same unto Edward Shippen until he be secured the money, and then he to reconvey it again for the use aforesaid.[254]

First record of house built for school

In 1701 we find the first record for building a house for the sole use of the school, presumably on the lot previously purchased by the meeting.[255] Robert Burrough and Nathaniel Edgcomb were appointed to get the subscription for the building and pay to Anthony Morris, who was to agree with suitable workmen for the building.[256] The dimensions, “20 feet wide by 60 feet long,” were, at first consideration, thought to be satisfactory, but it was finally decided to build it 24 feet by 60 feet.[257] The work was at first to be supported by subscriptions, but before its completion it became necessary to issue bonds for the amount of £100.[258]

Property acquired by gift

The acquisition of property, this time by gift, continued. In 1701, Daniel Lloyd reported that a deed for the lot in High Street, given by Samuel Carpenter to Friends for the use of the free school, was signed to the said Samuel, and the meeting directed him to get another drawn to the overseers of the school.[259] It might easily appear that the new schoolhouse, just proposed, was to be built on this lot and not that previously purchased of Lionell Brittain. After due consideration it seems, however, that the greater weight is in favor of its having been built on the Lionell tract. The minutes show that as late as 2d month, 24th, 1708, the deed for the lot from Samuel Carpenter to the meeting had not been drawn up.[260] But as was previously mentioned, Anthony Morris had been told to engage workmen (3d, 30th, 1701)[261] and the statement that £100 had to be raised by bond to carry on the work (2nd month, 28th, 1701)[262] would indicate that the work had actually been begun and was perhaps well towards completion by the end of that year. It seems quite impossible that any such building program would have been carried on so long before the transfer of property was properly drawn up and signed. The years 1704 and 1705 are busy with the details of getting several pieces of property, purchased and received as gifts, confirmed by the commissioners of property.[263] Late in 1705 it is stated:

Property confirmed

All is done, viz.: a patent for a front lot, a High Street lot and twenty acres of liberty land and also a patent for a bank lot.... But this meeting house, ground and schoolhouse ground, being only in the name of Edward Shippen, in case of mortality, Friends think there is a necessity for a speedy reconveying thereof to more hands and for the particular use intended ... desired that the said Edward Shippen may convey them to Samuel Carpenter, R. Hill and Anthony Morris, being the persons in whose name the Patents are granted unto, adding the names of all the overseers of the Free School in the part belonging to the said school.[264]

Heating facilities

An iron stove placed in the school

Some light is thrown upon the interior arrangement of the school. In 1712 Thomas Griffith was ordered to pay Christer Thomason 12 for “making” a stove in the schoolhouse,[265] presumably an old fashioned brick stove, such as a few years later was condemned by William Robbins as being “injurious to many of the scholars.”[266] Mr. Robbins proposed that a “chimney might be erected,” and Samuel Preston was appointed to have it done, if not inconvenient or expensive. He reported that it would be a greater charge than represented and would hardly answer the end proposed nearly so satisfactorily as an iron stove, which he had thought necessary and had accordingly had set up, to be removed however if the meeting did not approve of his action.[267] The charge for the iron stove was £7.[268] Such items as the foregoing were brought up in the monthly meeting which appointed some one to attend to this or that detail; as the schools grew these were left more in the hands of the school committee or overseers, who reported occasionally thereon.

Overseers assume greater responsibility

This tendency on the part of the meeting to turn over the details of management to the overseers came to a head about 1725,[269] when it was agreed by the meeting that all titles to the schoolhouses and other property be conveyed the overseers of the public schools and a minute be drawn up relating to such decision.[270] In the month following, the minutes of the committee’s report were made referring to the transfer:

Titles to property to be transferred to the overseers

Anthony Morris, Ebenezer Sorge, Samuel Powell and Jones being appointed by the Monthly Meeting of Philadelphia the 2-30-1725, to meet with the overseers of the public school, do acquaint them that the said meeting being concerned for the promotion of the public school have unanimously agreed that the title of the school house and ground with the lots, tenements ... now in the tenure of Evan Owen and Thomas Cannon with all the other titles of real estate and annuities appertaining to the public school, be vested in the overseers thereof and desire for the future distinct accounts may be kept of all legacies and donations made to the said schools in order that the same may be duly applied pursuant to the intentions of the donors respectively.

Then follows a minute of the overseers stating their appreciation of the meeting’s coöperation in the work of the school.

An account of funds to be made

The Monthly Meeting of Philadelphia expressing the same kind inclination to encourage that at first led them to erect the public school and to procure the same to be established by the proprietor’s charter, as it is now under the care of the present overseers, having thought it necessary that an exact account should be taken of all the benefactions intended by the several donors for the use of the said school, the moneys or effects whereof might have come under the direction of the said meeting. In order thereunto appointed some friends to adjust the said accounts with the overseers, which being carefully done, it appears the meeting has received of such benefactions as aforesaid for the use of the school the sum of £226 ... and that they expended in the building the school house which was begun, carried on and finished under their care and direction the sum of £264 and 3d, whereby the meeting is in disburse for the public schoolhouse, above what they received in the sum of £37/15/3, which last sum or balance they were pleased freely to ... grant and release to the said school, together with the lot belonging to it and all those (equipages) and tenements now in the occupation of Evan Owen and Thomas Cannon with their appurtenances and all the rents, profits and issues thereof, and have accordingly ordered the persons who are by legal deeds or instruments vested with the right to the said tenements in trust for the meeting to (grant) and absolutely convey the said schoolhouse and ... with the lots and grounds on which they stand and appurtenances to the overseers of the school, to be held by them and their successors for the use of the public school founded by charter in the town and county of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, forever.[271]

Papers to be executed conveying the properties

This transfer was at once acknowledged by the overseers in a minute of the same date, and Thomas Griffiths and John Goodson were desired to execute the proper papers conveying the properties to the said overseers of the public schools, which was accordingly done before the next meeting (4th month, 1725).[272]

New building proposed

By this time (1733) the old building erected in 1701 was badly in need of repairs, but on a closer examination it was decided more economical to pull down the old and build a new one, more convenient, on the north side of the school lot.[273]

and begun

New meeting house built large to contain school rooms

The work was begun immediately, though a lack of funds hindered its completion for some time.[274] The demand for an increase of building space seems to have been regular and urgent, indicating a healthy growth of the system. In 1740, when the consideration for a new meeting house came up, it was decided to build it large, “with chambers over it commodious for school rooms.”[275] In 1744 the overseers, finding the old school building inconvenient in divers respects, requested the monthly meeting to name a committee to confer with them on a plan, location and dimensions of a new building. Michael Lightfoot and twelve others were named.[276] The committee decided to locate the building on the south side of the lot devised by William Forest, the dimensions to be about 60 feet by 35 feet in the clear and two stories high, also a cellar under it, rising three feet above the surface of the ground. This quite pretentious building was not to be finished entirely at this time. The plan was to enclose all of it and finish the interior as the size of the school demanded.[277]

New school building requested on the Fox lot

Tenement buildings erected on lots as an investment for the school

For twelve years apparently no further building projects were launched. Then the overseers appealed to the meeting for permission to erect a school on the middle of the lot left to them by George Fox. This was agreed to by that assembly and a committee named to remove the present incumbent of the lot who had not paid the rent for some years past.[278] Their next building was begun, not for the purpose of a place of instruction, but as investment: It was proposed to the monthly assembly in 1760 that several houses be erected on the schoolhouse lot fronting Chestnut Street, expenses defrayed out of the treasury of the overseers, for the purpose of increasing the yearly income of the property.[279] The suggestion was well received and the liberty granted to erect one or more such houses.[280] In 1767 the accommodations for the Girls’ School, being unsatisfactory, the overseers of the school requested permission to have the chamber of the meeting house fitted up as a place for them, which was taken under consideration by a committee of the meeting appointed for that purpose.[281]

Building for negro school requested about 1771

The Negro School, established 1770, was first housed in a building rented for that use,[282] in which it continued for nearly a year. The plans for a permanent school made a building for that purpose desirable, and in 1771 the committee on education of the Negroes requested that a house be built on the lot where the alms-houses were situated, which was granted.[283] This house was occupied by the school until charge of it was assumed by Anthony Benezet (1782), who held the school in his own house.[284]

Restatement of points considered

In the foregoing pages we have mentioned some of the facts of the establishment and development of the school in Philadelphia, with reference to (1) founding, (2) support, (3) masters, (4) properties, buildings and grounds. It is deemed advisable to omit from this chapter any presentation of curriculum, excepting as that has been mentioned at a few places, reserving such presentation to a chapter comprising all the schools established in Pennsylvania. As a fitting close to the previous discussion of the century’s development, we present, almost entire, one of the reports returned by the committee of the meeting, which in a fair way will tell the reader more about the growth up to, and the status of the system in 1784, than will any discussion. Portions of the report are discussed in other chapters.

The report to the monthly meeting (1784) indicates status of schools on that date

The schools under their direction and care within the limits of this meeting, are:

(1) One under the tuition of Robert Proud, by whom about 30 boys are instructed in the Latin and Greek languages and some branches of the mathematics; his salary is fixed at £250 per annum, having an usher who is allowed £80 per annum, at the expense of the estate under the care of the overseers. The present £6 per annum for each scholar for which he accounts to the said overseers and has for one year past received one Guinea entrance to his own use and charges 5/ for fuel. We had some conversation with him on the case necessary to guard against the use of such books, whose contents have a tendency to prepossess the youthful minds with sentiments unfavorable to the Christian faith and the true spirit of the gospel; which appears had his attention, having observed a care therein agreeable to what the occasion requires. In this school are read Barclay’s Apology in Latin and the Testament in Latin and Greek. The overseers have enjoined the attendance of the scholars who are chiefly members of our own religious society, at our meeting on the fifth day of the week, but it had not been sufficiently observed.

(2) One under the care of John Todd, in which are taught reading, writing, the English Grammar, Arithmetic and some other branches of the mathematics. It consists of 88 boys on this list, for 83 of whom he has 20/ per quarter, 2/6 for pen and ink, 5/ for fuel; on the entrance of each 15/ except where the parents or guardians are not of ability to afford it, the other 5 being put to him by the school corporation, he teaches for 10/ per quarter. He remarked there are each day about 70 together. The master appears careful to observe good order in his school and frequently attends our meeting on the 5th day with his scholars. He also kept a night school in the winter season consisting of 82 scholars.

(3) One by Isaac Weaver consisting of about 28 boys, being limited to 10/ per quarter, 2/6 for pen and ink and 5/ a year for fuel, he takes no entrance fee and teaches reading, writing, and arithmetic, and is careful to keep good order in the school, also frequently brings his scholars to the meeting fifth day.

(4) William Brown teaches girls reading, writing and arithmetic, language, 8 whole days at 30/ per quarter 14 in mornings 15/ per quarter 13 in afternoon 15/ per quarter and for some time has been in the practice of taking 7/6 entrance fee, except for those placed with him by the school corporation—he represents some difficulty in enforcing the rules and regulations provided for the schools on account of the greater number of his scholars children of persons not professing with us.

(5) Sarah Lancaster has a school for young children of both sexes consisting of about 64 scholars of whom:

Also pay for fuel. She teaches both sexes to spell and read and the girls to sew and appears to have an orderly school.

In all the foregoing schools, which are under the direction of the school corporation, 41 poor children are taught at their expense. We also visited the following schools, the masters and mistresses of which are either members or make profession with our religious society, but are not immediately under the care of the board. (I give here only a digest of their report).

(1) Mary Harry.

(2) Joseph Clarke.

(3) Mrs. Clarke (wife) and Joseph Clarke.

(4) Anna Marsh.

(5) Mary McDonnell.

In the most of the schools there are nearly one-half if not more of the children of the people of the societies and we wish Friends children may not be too frequently excluded for want of room, evident inconvenience being very observable in the present mixed state of schools, it is much to be desired that a more select mode of education could be effectually promoted; in the meantime it would be well that master be not too lax in the observance of the rules.[285]

Boarding school encouraged by Owen Biddle

Approved by quarterly and yearly meetings

Rules drawn up therefor

The other item of very great interest, though not in reality immediately connected with the schools in Philadelphia, concerns the establishment of a boarding school, which was to be founded and planned after one of the oldest and largest schools of the society, the great Ackworth School in England.[286] The project was greatly encouraged by Owen Biddle, who (6th month, 10th, 1790) published a pamphlet of 52 pages in which the plea for such a school was elaborated.[287] A committee was appointed to confer with him, and reported they wished to present their wishes also to the other monthly meetings of the city,[288] and they concurring, to present the wishes of the monthly meetings to the quarterly and so on to the yearly meeting.[289] The report, when presented to the other two monthly meetings, met with favor,[290] and it was accordingly agreed (1792) to bring the matter before the quarterly meeting.[291] The approval of the quarterly and yearly meetings[292] in the time immediately ensuing resulted in the plans being set on foot for a subscription of £5000 and which was made open to all members of the yearly meeting in whatsoever quarter; the amount of these, in 1797, was £247/10.[293] The school established at Westtown on the tract of land purchased by the yearly meeting, was opened in 1800,[294] with Richard Hartshorne as the first superintendent.[295] Rules and regulations for its conduct had been drawn up by a committee appointed by the yearly meeting in 1794.[296]