Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School, 1907

The Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School (DIAS) was a school for African Americans in Chester County, Pennsylvania from 1905 until 1993. Its motto was "Self help through self work"."The Downington Industrial School"
''The Pittsburgh Courier'', 5 July 1912. It was located in what is now East Brandywine Township.

History

The school was founded by

John S. Trower John Sheppard Trower (1849–1911) was an American businessman, restauranteur, and founder of a school. He co-founded Downingtown Industrial and Agricultural School, in operation from 1905 until 1993. Trower was among the wealthiest African Americ ...

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. The school's purpose was to provide vocational training. By 1907, an illustrated report on the school was published showings the school's chapel, barn, dining room, and sewing room. The school was included in Philadelphia's colored directory in 1910. The school was aimed at educating African-American youth. In July 1912 the school announced that it would be sending 15 graduates to Lincoln University that Fall. James H. N. Waring (1890 - 1973) served as the school's principal. Mortelia Womack, who worked as a secretary for

W. E. B. Du Bois William Edward Burghardt Du Bois ( ; February 23, 1868 – August 27, 1963) was an American-Ghanaian sociologist, socialist, historian, and Pan-Africanist civil rights activist. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in ...

, 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. In 1980, a thirty-six-page publication about the school was printed. Notable alumni include

Cab Callaway Cabell Calloway III (December 25, 1907 – November 18, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, conductor and dancer. He was associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, where he was a regular performer and became a popular vocalist ...

famous for, among other things, Minnie the Moocher, or The Hi-De-Ho song.

Legacy

Delaware County Community College Delaware County Community College (DCCC) is a public community college with campuses and facilities throughout Delaware and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania. DCCC was founded in 1967 and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher ...

's Downington campus is on the site of the former school.

History

Legacy

See also

References

Further reading