Germantown Academy Administration Building

Germantown Academy, informally known as GA and originally known as the Union School, is the oldest

nonsectarian Nonsectarian institutions are secular institutions or other organizations not affiliated with or restricted to a particular religious group. Academic sphere Examples of US universities that identify themselves as being nonsectarian include Adelp ...

day school in the United States. The school was founded on December 6, 1759, by a group of prominent

Germantown Germantown or German Town may refer to: Places Australia * Germantown, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region United States * Germantown, California, the former name of Artois, a census-designated place in Glenn County * Ge ...

citizens in the Green Tree Tavern on the Germantown Road. Germantown Academy enrolls students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade and is located in the

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

suburb of Fort Washington, having moved from its original Germantown campus in 1965. The original campus (see

Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses Old Germantown Academy and Headmasters' Houses or The Old Campus is a historic school campus, the original site of Germantown Academy, located at Schoolhouse Lane and Greene Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The academy moved to a new subur ...

) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The school shares the oldest continuous high school football rivalry with the

William Penn Charter School William Penn Charter School (commonly known as Penn Charter or simply PC) is an independent school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1689 at the urging of William Penn as the "Public Grammar School" and chartered in 1689 to be op ...

History

Early years

The Union School was founded on the evening of December 6, 1759, at the Green Tree Tavern on Germantown Avenue. The school was founded by prominent members of the Germantown community who wished to provide a country school for their children. As some of the founders and residents of Germantown were of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

descent, it was decided that the school be opened with both

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and

speaking departments. The founders chose David James Dove to head the English department and Hilarius Becker of Bernheim, Germany, to head the German school. In 1761, land was given to the school by trustee Charles Bensell, and a schoolhouse with its iconic belfry was constructed. The school found itself in the crossroads of early American history. In 1777, the Battle of Germantown was fought on the front lawn of trustee

Benjamin Chew Benjamin Chew (November 19, 1722 – January 20, 1810) was a fifth-generation American, a Quaker-born legal scholar, a prominent and successful Philadelphia lawyer, slaveowner, head of the Pennsylvania Judiciary System under both Colony and Com ...

at his home

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less than a mile from campus. During the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

, the school served as a hospital and camp for British soldiers. Legend says that the British officers played the first game of cricket in America on the Academy's front lawn. After the war, the school was visited by President

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

. Washington sent his adopted step-grandson

George Washington Parke Custis George Washington Parke Custis (April 30, 1781 – October 10, 1857) was an American plantation owner, antiquarian, author, and playwright. His father John Parke Custis was the stepson of George Washington. He and his sister Eleanor grew u ...

to the Academy during the 1793

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epidemic in Philadelphia. The school was visited by the

Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (, ), was a French aristocrat, freemason and military officer who fought in the American Revolutio ...

on his 1825 visit to America and hosted Fernando, the adopted son of South American liberator Simón Bolívar. In 1830,

Amos Bronson Alcott Amos Bronson Alcott (; November 29, 1799 – March 4, 1888) was an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. As an educator, Alcott pioneered new ways of interacting with young students, focusing on a conversational style, and a ...

, father of Louisa May Alcott, was appointed headmaster and attempts were made to co-educate the school but were quickly abandoned.

The Kershaw years

After the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, the school was in decline, with a small student body and outdated facilities. In 1877, Dr. William Kershaw was appointed headmaster. Under his leadership, the Academy gained prominence and expanded its activities with the introduction of the Inter-Academic League (1887), The Belfry Club, one of the oldest high school drama clubs in the country (1894), and ''The Academy Monthly'' (1885), one of the oldest student literary magazines still in existence. During his headmastership, GA graduated a future

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

president, a Supreme Court justice, and a primate of the Episcopal Church.

20th century

In 1915, Dr. Kershaw retired and Dr. Samuel E. Osbourn was appointed headmaster. Under Dr. Osbourn's leadership, the school increased in size, focused on scholarship and continued to produce some of Philadelphia's finest citizens. Under Osbourn, GA established the eighth oldest

Cum Laude Society The Cum Laude Society is an organization that honors scholastic achievement at secondary institutions, similar to the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which honors scholastic achievements at the university level. It was founded at The Tome School in 19 ...

chapter in the nation and started an endowment. After the World Wars, GA was led by headmaster Donald Miller who was instrumental in the move from Germantown to the current Fort Washington campus. By the 1960s, more and more lower income minority families moved into Germantown and GA families left Germantown for the nearby suburbs. In five years, "The Miracle of Fort Washington" (a term coined by Judge Jerome O'Neill, '28) occurred as the school moved from city to suburb. In this transition, GA coeducated, accepting girls in 1961 with the first co-ed class graduating in 1968.

Traditions and symbols

The school colors are red, black, and blue. Originally, red, white, and blue, the white was changed to black upon the death of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

in 1865. Another legend suggests that GA changed its colors so its

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

team would not be confused with the nearby

Philadelphia Cricket Club The Philadelphia Cricket Club, founded in 1854, is the oldest country club in the United States. It has two locations: Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, and Flourtown, Pennsylvania. History Founded on February 10, 1854, the Philadelphia Cricket ...

(with red, black, and yellow as club colors) team, as the white would turn to yellow after long and hot matches. GA/PC Day is an annual tradition where GA plays against its rival

in football, soccer, field hockey, cross country, girls' tennis, water polo, and golf. The football game brings alumni back from both schools and reunions are held the weekend of the games. The competition is the oldest of its kind dating back to 1886. Lower School Field Day is an annual tradition that brings the red and blue teams into fierce competition. The teams are generational for existing GA families and is a staple to the school spring calendar. The Belfry serves as a symbol of the old and new school as both buildings in Germantown and Fort Washington had identical structures. It is the namesake for the drama club and is used as symbol on GA items.

Lower School

The Lower School consists of three main buildings: Leas Hall, McLean Hall (constructed in 1964), and the Abramson Lower School (constructed in 1999). Leas Hall comprises the Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classrooms, while McLean Hall contains 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classrooms. The Abramson Lower School has two 3rd grade classrooms, science rooms, and music classrooms. There are currently 347 students enrolled in the Lower School (as of the 2019-20 school year), and a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1.

Middle school

The Middle School as a separate department was established in 1976. It was first led by Barbara Hitschler Serrill,'68 and then run by longtime Head of Middle School, Richard House. The first Alter Middle School was donated by Dennis and Gisela Alter and constructed in 1997. In 2011, the new Alter Middle School was constructed and opened as a part of the Building on Tradition campus campaign. There are many activities for students, such as the science fair, a play and musical, sports teams, many clubs, such as a Fandom Club, an art club, and a literary magazine. There are 275 students currently enrolled in the Middle school (as of the 2019-20 school year).

Upper School

Students are required at minimum, five credits per year and at least four years of English, three years of Math, Science, History, two years of Language, and one year of Art. There are 567 students enrolled in the Upper School (as of the 2019-20 school year). The student to teacher ratio is currently 8:1 in the Upper School. The upper school runs on a house system. Each student is placed into one of seven houses. These houses include, Alcott Day, Washington, Galloway, Osbourn, Kershaw, Truesdell, and Roberts. Each house is named after an important figure with a Germantown Academy connection. A student will stay with their house for all four years of upper school life. Each house has a house head, these teachers include, Robert Torrey, Allison Rader, Susan Merrill, Steven Moll, and Rachel Lintgen. Over the course of a year, each house will meet twice a week, and for special events, they will compete against each other. These special events include ''The Knowledge Bowl'' ''House Olympics'' and ''The Annual Spelling Bee''. Each year a house cup is crowned to the house with the most house points which are picked up throughout the year in the challenges above and in many others. Conduct in the upper school is governed by the Honor Code, a system where students agree to a set of rules, and where, in the case of an infraction, students are judged by an honor council consisting of teachers and peers. New Upper School

Upper School publications

* The Academy Monthly is one of the oldest student run literary magazines in the country, founded in 1884. Published biannually. Features student and faculty writing and artwork. * The Edition is the Upper School newspaper was founded in 1969. It includes editorials, school news and sports updates as well as commentary on contemporary culture. * Frequency: Frequency magazine provides insight into contemporary music scene through editorials, CD reviews, news about upcoming concerts and album release dates. Students and staff are encouraged to submit material. * maGAzine: maGAzine is the Upper School current events/political journal. It includes political commentary, articles and artwork by students and staff. * Voyager: The Upper School's Modern Language Journal features articles on world cultures and language. Includes observations, poetry, travel writing and artwork by students and staff. * Ye Primer: First published in 1895 as a record of the senior class, the yearbook has expanded to include the whole school, captures the life of the student body, faculty and staff with pictures, articles and senior pages.

Upper School clubs

* Academy Club (student/alumni liaison group) * Academy Monthly (student literary magazine) * ACT Club (All Cultures Together) * Apiary Club * Art Club * ASIA (Asian Students in America) * Beatles Appreciation Club * Belfry Club (drama club) * Book Club * BSA (Black Student Alliance) * Cappies (student reviews of student theater productions) * Celtic League * Chess Club * Community Partnership School/Project Home Tutoring * CSO (Community Service Organization) * Documentary Club * Edition (GA newspaper) * Ethics Club (discussions of issues relevant to students) * Fashion Club * Film Club (view and discuss classics and contemporary films) * Finance Club * FOCUS (nondenominational Bible study) * Food Club * Frequency (music club) * GAAC (GA Aquatic Club) * GAEA (GA Environmental Action) * Garden to Market Entrepreneurs * GA TV Club * GLASS (Gay Lesbian and Straight Students) * Green Gardeners * Hip Hop Culture Club * History Scholars * Indian Culture Club * Jazz Ensemble * Jewish Culture Club * KTK Club (Kids Teaching Kids Science) * Math Club * Mock Trial * Model UN * National Science Honors Society * Outdoor Club * Patriot Ambassadors (student tour guides) * Patriot (Spirit) Club * Philly Sports Club * Quizbowl (trivia and general knowledge competition team) * Relay for Life * GA-PC Student Coalition * SCUBA Club * SGA (Student Government Association) * Small Metals Club * Stage Crew (theater production technical crew) * Student Tutoring * Voyager (modern language journal) * Women's Forum (discussion of relevant women's issues) * Ye Primer (yearbook)

House system

The house system was established in 2007 at the insistence of Headmaster Jim Connor and Upper School faculty member Ted Haynie. The seven-house system is modeled after the ancient English

public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

concept of joining students from different years in a common group. Each of the seven houses is named for an influential alumnus or friend of the academy. Each house consists of roughly 80 people and competes in various competitions throughout the year. The system also provides an academic and social support system for underclassmen as they have the chance to interact with upperclassmen and a variety of faculty. Each house is run by a House Head and two student prefects (one boy, one girl). Throughout the year, the houses compete in various competitions ranging from a Knowledge Bowl to a German Folk Song Singing Contest to Handball, etc. The highpoint of the house system calendar is the House Olympics which is held in early May where the different houses compete in athletic and academic competitions for a chance of the House Olympics Trophy (in parenthesis is the faculty house head for the 2017–18 school year) Washington is named for President

, a patron of the old school and a parent as his step-son

attended in the 1790s. The house colors are black and silver and Washington himself serves as the house mascot. (Steven Moll) Alcott Day (previously known as just Alcott until June 3, 2016) is named for former headmaster

, and longtime teacher Virginia Belle Day. Alcott, the father of renowned author Louisa May Alcott, believed strongly in providing girls with an education comparable to that given to boys, despite the fact that most educators of his day sought to emphasize a ‘domestic arts’ curriculum for girls. He introduced coeducational integration for a brief period starting in 1831, before leaving the academy three years later. Virginia "Jinny" Day worked tirelessly to make the academy open to all, regardless of gender, in 1963. Alcott house colors are blue and green and its house mascot is the alligator. (Peggy Bradley) Roberts is named for Supreme Court Justice

Owen J. Roberts Owen Josephus Roberts (May 2, 1875 – May 17, 1955) was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1930 to 1945. He also led two Roberts Commissions, the first of which investigated the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the seco ...

, a member of the class of 1890. Roberts House colors are blue and orange and their mascot is the walrus. (Allison Rader) Truesdell is named for longtime GA teacher, Walter Truesdell. Truesdell was

Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal ...

and taught Latin for thirty years. The house colors are blue and silver and the mascot is the timberwolf. (Rachel Lingten) Kershaw is named for headmaster Dr. William Kershaw (1877–1915). Kershaw's colors are navy blue and light blue and the mascot is the kangaroo. (Matt Dence) Galloway is named for early Academy trustee

Joseph Galloway Joseph Galloway (1731August 29, 1803) was an American attorney and a leading political figure in the events immediately preceding the founding of the United States in the late 1700s. As a staunch opponent of American independence, he would bec ...

, a notable Philadelphia figure during the Revolution. Galloway's house colors are black and yellow and their mascot is the Griffin. (Michael Torrey) Osbourn is named for longtime headmaster Dr. Samuel E. Osbourn (1915–1948). The house colors are green and white. (Susan Merrill)

Administration

Alma mater

The alma mater was written c. 1910 by J. Hefflestein Mason, a member of the class of 1900. Class songs originated as early as 1885 and appeared in each class's ''Ye Primer''. Before the current alma mater, the school had a few lesser-known "alma maters" and a school yell which was sung after 1910. Before the 1970s, the alma mater was sung along with the school hymn

Our God, Our Help in Ages Past "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past" is a hymn by Isaac Watts in 1708 that paraphrases the 90th Psalm of the Book of Psalms. It originally consisted of nine stanzas; however, in present usage the fourth, sixth, and eighth stanzas are commonly omit ...

. Mason went on to write more music and perform with the

Philadelphia Opera Company The Philadelphia Opera Company was the name of two different American opera companies active during the twentieth century in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first company was founded by impresario Oscar Hammerstein I in 1908. That company disbanded ...

.''252 Years and Counting, A History of Germantown Academy, 1759–2011'', Anderson, Kenneth S., Hoster, 2011

Headmasters

*David James Dove (1761–1763) Hilarius Becker (1761–1778) * Pelatiah Webster (1763–1766) *John Woods (1765–1769) *John Downey (1769–1774) *Thomas Dungan (1774–1777) *George Murray (1777–1778) *(School closed due to the Revolution, 1778–1784) *George Murray (1784–1786) *Thomas Dungan (1786–1805) Rev. Frederick Herman (1794–1795) (German master) *Nathaniel Major (1805–1806) *John Conrad (1806–1809) *William Woodman (1809–1810) *George I. Howell (1810–1811) *Enion Williams (1811–1814) Stephen H. Long (1811–1814) *Jedediah Strong (1814–1819) *Rev. John R. Goodman (1819–1820) *John M. Brewer (1820–1821) *Walter Rogers Johnson (1821–1825) *J.G. Cooper (1826–1827) *George R. Giddings (1828–1830) *Moses Soule (1830) *Theodore Russell Jenks (1830) *

(1831) William Russell (1831) *John F. Watson (1834) *John C. Whitehead (1834) *Rev. Dr. Christian F. Cruse (1835–1836) *Eugene Smith (1836) *Rev. Henry K. Green (1836–1839) *Alfred J. Perkins (1839–1843) *W.M. Collom (1843–1849) *S.C. Miller (1849–1853) *James Withington (1853–1863) *Cyrus V. Mays (1863–1872) *Rev. William Travis (1872–1877) *Dr. William Kershaw (1877–1915) *Dr. Samuel E. Osbourn (1915–1948) *John F. Godman (1948–1952) *Dr. Richard W. Day (1952–1956) *Donald Hope Miller (1956–1966) *Samuel Stroud (1966–1970) *Edward "Bud" Kast (1970–1986) *James Carey Ledyard (1986–1990) *James W. Connor (1990–2016) *Richard C. Schellhas (2016–present)

Notable alumni

Germantown Academy has notable alumni in the arts, sciences, government, and business, including

Bradley Cooper Bradley Charles Cooper (born January 5, 1975) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a British Academy Film Award and two Grammy Awards, in addition to nominations for nine Academy Awards, si ...

Brian L. Roberts Brian L. Roberts (born June 28, 1959) is an American billionaire businessman, and the chairman and CEO of Comcast, an American company providing cable, entertainment, and communications products and services which was founded by his father, Ralph ...

Alvin Williams Alvin Leon Williams Jr. (born August 6, 1974) is an American retired professional basketball player who played for Villanova University and in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1997 to 2007. College career Williams graduated from ...

, and

References

External links

Germantown Academy official websiteMembers of the Class of 1760Satellite image from Google MapsThe GA ChoiceNamesHistory
{{authority control Educational institutions established in 1759 1759 establishments in Pennsylvania Private high schools in Pennsylvania Private middle schools in Pennsylvania Private elementary schools in Pennsylvania Schools in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania