Schools and Colleges
Primary and Secondary
- 1868 List of Schools (with Teachers)
- 1889 DC Grade School Graduates
- 1914 DC Grade School Graduates
Armstrong High School
With the start of the industrial and manual training programs in 1873, Armstrong and McKinley Technical High Schools were founded.
1920 Graduates
1931 High School Yearbook-
Business High
1892 Graduates
1893 Graduates
1894 Graduates
1895 Graduates
1896 Graduates
1898 Graduates
1900 Graduates
1901 Graduates
1912 Names
1912 Photos
1914 Graduates & 1964 Reunion
1922 Names
Central Jr/Sr High School
Central's History
1895 Graduates & Third Year Students
1900 Graduates
1901 Graduates
1911 Names
1913 Graduates
1914 Graduates
1922 Names
Colonial School for Girls Colonial School for Girls, 1919
1539 Eighteenth St, NW. A private school offering classes at the high school and college preparatory levels. It was also a finishing school.Costin School
Established in the 1800's by Louisa Parke Costin in her father's home (William Costin) on Capitol Hill. Located on a street south, under the shadow of the Capitol.Custis School
A school for white boys located in the Harlow Building at the nortwest corner of Cameron and Royal Streets in Alexandria.Dunbar High (Preparatory)
The first high school in the city for any race. It was begun in 1870 as Prepatory High School for blacks. It began in the basement of the 15th Street Presbyterian Church, but later in 1916 moved to First and N Streets NW, at which time it was renamed Dunbar for the black poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. Its early principals included the first black woman to receive a college degree in America and the first black man to graduate from Harvard. In 1899 Dunbar students scored higher in city examinations than students at either white school. In 1955 Dunbar became part of the neighborhood school system.
1930 GraduatesEastern High School
Photos of Eastern
1895 Graduates & Third Year Students
1900 Graduates
1901 Graduates
1926 Names
1930 Names
1937 NamesEmerson Institute
This was a private school established in the 1850s. It's still in operation today.
1888 GraduatesEpiscopal High
Founded in 1839 on Seminary (Holy) Hill.First Division
No information located.Fourth Division
No information located.Franklin School
Finished in 1869, the school was located at 13th and K Streets NW, it was a part of the white school system and considered one of the finest school buildings in the city. The design by Adolph Cluss won prizes in design from around the world. It still stands on Franklin Square and is a District landmark.
See 1889 Grade School GraduatesGales School
The school was erected in 1881, designed by noted Architect of the Capitol, Edward Clark, and named in honor of the eighth mayor of Washington City, Joseph Gales, Jr. It is a three-story, red brick, restrained Romanesque Revival-style school, resembling another Clark-designed school, the Webster School at 10th and H Streets, NW. The Gales School closed in 1944.
See 1889 Grade School Graduates
See 1914 Grade School Graduates
Georgetown Seminary
A very popular school during that period, with students coming from every state and Canada.Hallowell
Built in Alexandria between 1793-95 and run by Quaker Benjamin Hallowell. A school for negro girls.Jefferson Stables
At the corner of 14th and G Sts, NW. It had been the stable of Thomas Jefferson while he was President. In 1854, a proposal was made to the Corporation of Washington that the land be taken or acquired for purposes of erecting a public school. The following is taken from notes taken at the Corporation of Washington's Board of Common Council meeting of December 11, 1854: The Chair laid before the Board a communication from George J. Abbott, Secretary pro tem, of the Board of Trustees of Public Schools, in relation to the "title to the let on the corner of 14th and G streets and the building there, which was formerly known as 'Jefferson's Stable,'" and suggesting "that a renewed application be made to Congress and urgently pressed upon its consideration for the obtaining of a grant of public lands for the purpose of erecting public school buildings in this city, extending our system of public instruction, and placing it upon a firm foundation." [Source: Daily National Intelligencer, Wash, DC, Dec 14, 1854].
Also, from the March 27, 1865, edition of the Daily National Intelligencer: "Reminiscences. The old school house on the corner of G and Fourteenth streets, opposite the new Methodist Church, was Mr. Jefferson's stable during his Presidency, so we are informed by an old citizen, whose reminiscences of Washington, if published, would form a highly instructive and agreeable volume."
The "new Methodist Church" was no doubt Foundry Meeting House at the corner of 14th and G.Lancaster School
Lancaster School in Georgetown used a unique approach (Lancastrian) developed by an English Quaker, with emphasis on having the pupils instruct each other. The school operated for 32 years at 3126 O Street and the building still stands.Lafayette Elementary School
Lee School
Located in the Stuart Building on King Street, Alexandria; this was a school for white girls.MacArthur Blvd.
A oneroom wooden schoolhouse built in 1874; it was used until 1928.Maret
On the lands of "Woodley", built circa 1800 by Philip Barton Key, Maret School began in 1950. It still stands at 3000 Cathedral Avenue near the National Cathedral.McKinley
From 1940 Handbook--Property is located at Second and T Streets, NE. There are 3 buildings, the main building, the gymnasium and the armory. All are connected. The actual front of the buildings overlook Tech's plaza and stadium. The main building has 3 stories and approximately 3 hundred and fifty rooms. The gym and armory are located at Second and R Streets. They may be reached by following the first floor corridor through the passage, or by entering the plaza. McKinley begin in 1885 with a Congressional appropriation of $195,000 during 1897-99 for construction. Formal dedication was in 1903 as McKinley Technical Manual School.Miss Lydia English's Female Seminary
Housed at 3017 N Street and then later at 30th Street, the building still stands on N Street is a private house.Negro High School
Originally, DC had a single "colored" high school. Later, as the population grew, separate schools were established throughout town.
1888 Graduates-
Parkview School
Parkview School Peabody School
Located in the Orphan Asylum on Wolfe Street in Alexandria, this school was for white girls.Powell Junior High School
Seventh Division School
No information location.Sidwell Friends
The Sidwell Friends School bought "The Highlands" on Wisconsin Avenue, which originally was purchased in 1817 by Joseph Nourse and remained in Nourse family until 1920 when it was sold to Admiral Cary Grayson, chairman of the American Red Cross. The Admiral's widow sold it to the School in 1956. Most of the extensive gardens are now gone.
1894 Sidwell Friends Graduates
1899 Sidwell Friends GraduatesSnowden School
A school for Negro boys, erected by the Freedmen's Bureau was located on Pitt Street in Alexandria.
1909 College GraduatesStevens
Built in 1878 at 21st and K Streets NW and continues to be in use.
See 1889 Grade School GraduatesSumner
Located at 17th and M Streets NW, Sumner was designed by Adolph Cluss and built in 1871. It was the headquarters of the black school system and is now a District landmark.
See 1889 Grade School GraduatesWashington School, Alexandria
The only schoolhouse owned by Alexandria City, which was endowed by George Washington in 1785. It was a school for white boys.Washington High School, DC
One of the first public high schools in DC, Washington High was in operation until about 1892 when Eastern, Central, Business, and Western were formally established from Washington High.
1883 Graduates
1886 Graduates
1888 GraduatesWashington Normal School, DC
School to train teachers
1886 Graduates
1888 GraduatesWebster School
The Webster School, at 940 H St., NW, was built in 1881-82 as a freestanding, three-story, 12-room public school. Although it was used as a public school only until the first decade of the 20th century, it served as an "Americanization School" offering citizenship classes to immigrants from 1925 to 1949.
See 1889 Grade School Graduates
See 1914 Grade School Graduates
Western High School
Photos
1895 Graduates & Third Year Students
1900 Graduates
1901 Graduates
1928 Names
Colleges and Universities
Columbian College
(now part of George Washington University
It was the home of the city's first medical and law schools. The college was founded by a group of Baptists ministers and laymen inspired by Rev. Luther Rice. Among patrons contributing funds for land and buildings were James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and John C. Calhoun. Congress was petitioned for a charter and a nondenominational was granted Feb. 9,1821 and the college opened eleven months later. The Rev. Dr. William Staughton was elected the College's first President in May 1821. For many years the campus was located on the heights above the city (known as "College Hill") on approximately 47 acres north of Boundary Street (now Florida Ave.) near 14th Street and Columbia Road.Columbus University Columbus University
1323 Eighteenth St, NW. Law, Accountancy; Evening courses for men and womenFederal City (D.C. University)
Merged with Miner Teachers College and Washington Technical Institute in 1976 to form University of the District of Columbia.Kendall (now Gallaudet, National Deaf Mute College)
The college was begun circa 1880. The school for the deaf was the first of its kind in the world. It was founded by Amos Kendall, Postmaster General during President Jackson's tenure. It was located on his estate called Kendall Green (Florida Ave. and 7th Streets NE). Kendall persuated Congress to incorporate the school in 1857. Edward Gallaudet ran the school for 53 years.Miners Teachers College
The college was started by Howard University in 1873 in memory of Myrtilla Miner, a young white woman who had opened a school for black girls in Washington before the Civil War. In 1976 Miner College, Washinton Technical Institute and Federal City College merged to form the University of the District of Columbia.
1888 Graduates
1897 Graduates
Washington Technical Institute (D.C. University)
Merged with Miner Teachers College and Federal City College in 1976 to form University of the District of Columbia.American University
Formerly opened in 1914, the university is located at Loughborough Road and Massachusetts Avenue, a site chosen by Methodist bishop John Fletcher Hurst in 1890.Catholic University
Catholic University was established on land that had been the estate of Margaret Bayard and Samuel Harrison Smith in years following the founding of the Federal City. The university was intended to provide education for both clergy and laity. The cornerstone was laid in 1888 by His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons.University of the District of Columbia
Formed in 1976 from Miner Teachers College, the Washington Technical Institute and Federal City College.Fairmont School and Junior College
1940 Yearbook NamesGeorgetown University
Georgetown University was founded in 1789 by John Carroll of Maryland, the first American archbishop. It was formed for students of every religious profession. Contributions came from both Catholic and Protestant families. It was the first Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States. Georgetown Univ. president from 1874 to 1882 was Father Patrick J. Healy , the first black to lead a major white university.
1911 Commencement Program (Law Dept.)George Washington University
See Columbian College. Located in what is called "Foggy Bottom", situated between Rock Creek and Tiber Creek.Howard University
Called the "Capstone of Negro Education". Originally formed for training of black preachers. Located on Florida Avenue at Seventh Street NW, it was established in 1867 by a special act of Congress with funds provided through the Freedmen's Bureau headed by General Oliver O. Howard, the main founder. Soon after opening it had 400 students, with a hospital being started in 1862.Steward School National University
The National University was incorporated on May 5, 1870, with a longterm plan to organize six colleges under one board of regents and to make the President of the United States exofficio Chancellor of the University. The Law Department of the University was organized and went into operation in October 1870. Originally located at 428 7th Street, NW, it later relocated to 925 F Street, NW.
1911 National University Law School CommencementSpencerian Business College
1881 Spencerian Business College Graduates
1889 Spencerian Business College Graduates
1897 Spencerian Business College GraduatesSteward School for Secretaries and Accountants
1927, The Steward School rented space Adams Building. Prior to 1886, the building was the property of C. C. Willard but was renamed around 1886 as the "Adams Building" since it was the residence of ex-President John Quincy Adams at the time of his death (1848). It appears that the Steward school was in operation for only a few years in the 1920s. But many, many other businesses occupied space there. 1333 F St, NW.
Strayer's Strayer's, 1922
721 Thirteenth St, NW (between G and H Sts).