Bancroft School of Massage Therapy
Encyclopedia
The Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, located in Worcester
, Massachusetts
, was founded in 1950 by Henry LaFleur, proprietor of the Bancroft Health Center, a facility specializing in Swedish Massage and Sports Massage since 1938. He purchased the George School of Massage in Boston, Massachusetts, moved it to Worcester, and renamed it the Bancroft School of Massage.
Tanakow then began work on gaining academic recognition for the school, and for the profession of massage therapy
as a whole. In November 1985, BSMT became the first "massage therapy" school to be licensed by the Department of Education
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
as an allied health school offering massage training.
In 1996, the school purchased its own building on Shrewsbury Street and designed an 18,000 square foot (1,700 m²) training facility.
(QCC) to give Bancroft graduates an opportunity to apply their credits from Bancroft towards completion of the Complementary Health Associate Degree program at Quinsigamond.
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, was founded in 1950 by Henry LaFleur, proprietor of the Bancroft Health Center, a facility specializing in Swedish Massage and Sports Massage since 1938. He purchased the George School of Massage in Boston, Massachusetts, moved it to Worcester, and renamed it the Bancroft School of Massage.
Modernization and accreditation
In April 1980, Steve Tankanow, a student apprentice and friend of Henry's, purchased the health center and the school, allowing Henry to devote his time to teaching. Under Steve's guidance, Bancroft moved to modern quarters in the same building, officially becoming BSMT in November 1981.Tanakow then began work on gaining academic recognition for the school, and for the profession of massage therapy
Body work (alternative medicine)
Bodywork is a term used in alternative medicine to describe any therapeutic or personal development technique that involves working with the human body in a form involving manipulative therapy, breath work, or energy medicine...
as a whole. In November 1985, BSMT became the first "massage therapy" school to be licensed by the Department of Education
State education agency
A state education agency , or state department of education, is a formal governmental label for the state-level government agencies within each U.S...
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
as an allied health school offering massage training.
In 1996, the school purchased its own building on Shrewsbury Street and designed an 18,000 square foot (1,700 m²) training facility.
Complementary health
In February 2002, Bancroft signed an alliance with Quinsigamond Community CollegeQuinsigamond Community College
Quinsigamond Community College is a public, two-year academic institution in Worcester, Massachusetts. A commuter school, the college has an enrollment of over 8,000 students in its Associate's degree and certification programs...
(QCC) to give Bancroft graduates an opportunity to apply their credits from Bancroft towards completion of the Complementary Health Associate Degree program at Quinsigamond.