Francis M. Drexel School
Encyclopedia
The Francis M. Drexel School was a historic school
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Located along Sixteenth Street, the school was designed by Joseph Anschutz
and built under the direction of Charles O'Neill, Jr. The three-story
brick building was built in a regular rectangular plan in the Victorian
style of architecture, with three chimney
s dominating its facade
.
The school was named for Francis Martin Drexel
, whose son, banker and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel, founded Drexel University
two years after the construction of the school.
The Drexel family was intensely involved with education at this time. Anthony J. Drexel, as the partner of J.P. Morgan was an internationally important financier, and as the partner of George W. Childs
, publisher of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, was influential in local affairs as well. He was a close friend of Childs, and together they worked to offer free or inexpensive education to the working class. According to Childs, Drexel gave "many munificent gifts to established educational and charitable institutions," as well as founding and endowing the Drexel Institute, which later became Drexel University
. Drexel's orphaned niece, Katherine Drexel sought advice from Childs and Drexel on her plans to become a nun in the service of educating Native American
s and African-Americans. This work led to her beatification
by Pope John II. Two other nieces, Elizabeth Drexel Smith and Louise Drexel Morrell, founded and endowed the St. Francis Industrial School at Eddington, Pennsylvania in 1888. The George W. Childs School, also designed by Anschutz, was built in 1894 just three blocks north of the Francis M. Drexel School.
Completed in 1889, the Drexel School includes features common to late nineteenth-century Philadelphia schools. Earlier schools were generally built entirely of brick
, and the 1870s saw the introduction of stone
schools, but schools built between 1883 and 1900 — including Drexel — typically combined brick walls and brownstone
finishing.
Anschutz worked in the tradition of Samuel Sloan's "Philadelphia Plan" of school architecture. On each floor, in this plan, classrooms opened onto a single corridor, and were divided by moveable partitions. Coatrooms were provided in each classroom. Stairways and other non-classroom space were located at the end of the corridor, near the outside of the building. The architectural plans closely follow these principles. The school's windows were enlarged in 1914, and in 1922, lighting was changed from gas to electric.
Although it originally housed classes for both elementary
and secondary
students, Drexel was built at a time when school boards were beginning to open separate schools for different purposes. It remained in use by the Philadelphia Public Schools
into the late twentieth century.
In 1986, the Francis Drexel School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in recognition of its architectural significance. While many Philadelphia schools had been modelled on the Drexel School in the late nineteenth century, most had been destroyed or significantly remodelled; only Drexel and two other schools remained in a condition similar to that of their original construction. Fifty-two other Philadelphia schools, including five designed by Anschutz, were added to the Register on the same day as part of the Philadelphia Public Schools multiple property submission. The Drexel School was demolished in February, 2010.
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located along Sixteenth Street, the school was designed by Joseph Anschutz
Joseph Anschutz
Joseph Anschutz or Joseph Anshutz was an architect who designed schools in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area.He designed approximately 75 schools, some nearly identical....
and built under the direction of Charles O'Neill, Jr. The three-story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
brick building was built in a regular rectangular plan in the Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
style of architecture, with three chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
s dominating its facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
.
The school was named for Francis Martin Drexel
Francis Martin Drexel
Francis Martin Drexel was a Philadelphia banker and artist. He was the father of Anthony Joseph Drexel, the founder of Drexel University and the grandfather of Saint Katherine Drexel....
, whose son, banker and philanthropist Anthony J. Drexel, founded Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
two years after the construction of the school.
The school
At the time of the Drexel School's construction, Philadelphia's school system had a decentralized administration, with Drexel being a part of the Twenty-sixth Section. The school buildings, however, were designed by the central administration.The Drexel family was intensely involved with education at this time. Anthony J. Drexel, as the partner of J.P. Morgan was an internationally important financier, and as the partner of George W. Childs
George William Childs
George William Childs was an American publisher who co-owned the Philadelphia Public Ledger newspaper with financier Anthony Joseph Drexel.-Early life:...
, publisher of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, was influential in local affairs as well. He was a close friend of Childs, and together they worked to offer free or inexpensive education to the working class. According to Childs, Drexel gave "many munificent gifts to established educational and charitable institutions," as well as founding and endowing the Drexel Institute, which later became Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
. Drexel's orphaned niece, Katherine Drexel sought advice from Childs and Drexel on her plans to become a nun in the service of educating Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
s and African-Americans. This work led to her beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope John II. Two other nieces, Elizabeth Drexel Smith and Louise Drexel Morrell, founded and endowed the St. Francis Industrial School at Eddington, Pennsylvania in 1888. The George W. Childs School, also designed by Anschutz, was built in 1894 just three blocks north of the Francis M. Drexel School.
Completed in 1889, the Drexel School includes features common to late nineteenth-century Philadelphia schools. Earlier schools were generally built entirely of brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
, and the 1870s saw the introduction of stone
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
schools, but schools built between 1883 and 1900 — including Drexel — typically combined brick walls and brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
finishing.
Anschutz worked in the tradition of Samuel Sloan's "Philadelphia Plan" of school architecture. On each floor, in this plan, classrooms opened onto a single corridor, and were divided by moveable partitions. Coatrooms were provided in each classroom. Stairways and other non-classroom space were located at the end of the corridor, near the outside of the building. The architectural plans closely follow these principles. The school's windows were enlarged in 1914, and in 1922, lighting was changed from gas to electric.
Although it originally housed classes for both elementary
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
and secondary
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
students, Drexel was built at a time when school boards were beginning to open separate schools for different purposes. It remained in use by the Philadelphia Public Schools
School District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
into the late twentieth century.
In 1986, the Francis Drexel School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in recognition of its architectural significance. While many Philadelphia schools had been modelled on the Drexel School in the late nineteenth century, most had been destroyed or significantly remodelled; only Drexel and two other schools remained in a condition similar to that of their original construction. Fifty-two other Philadelphia schools, including five designed by Anschutz, were added to the Register on the same day as part of the Philadelphia Public Schools multiple property submission. The Drexel School was demolished in February, 2010.