Palmer Memorial Institute
Encyclopedia
The Alice Freeman Palmer Memorial Institute, better known as Palmer Memorial Institute, was a school for upper class African American
s. was founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown
at Sedalia, North Carolina
near Greensboro
. Palmer Memorial Institute was named after Alice Freeman Palmer
, former president of Wellesley College and benefector of Dr. Brown.
It became, before its closure in the 1970s, a fully accredited, nationally recognized preparatory school. More than 1,000 African American students attended the school between 1902 and 1970.
Bennett College purchased the Palmer campus, but in 1980 it sold 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of the main campus with major surviving buildings to the American Muslim Mission. The American Muslim Mission tried to establish a teacher's college but abandoned this project due to the bad condition of the campus.
In late 1982, Maria Cole, a niece of Dr. Brown's and widow of late singer Nat King Cole
, and friend Marie Gibbs of Greensboro began an effort to obtain recognition of Dr. Brown's social and educational contributions, specificially in regards to Palmer Memorial Institute. Both women, who were former students at Palmer Memorial Institute, sponsored meetings of Palmer alumni and enlisted support for this cause. They also met with North Carolina's Division of Archives and History to explore ideas.
Through the assistance of North Carolina Senator Bill Martin, a special bill was passed in the 1983 General Assembly that allowed for planning by Archives and History of the state's first African American state historic site as a memorial to Dr. Brown.
In November 1987, the memorial officially opened as a state historic site.
In 1994, the Historic Sites Section completed exhaustive, comprehensive research on Brown and the Palmer Institute, and restored or stabilized several other structures.
The museum's visitor center is located in the Carrie M. Stone Teachers' Cottage (1948), and features exhibits about Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown
, the Institute and African American education in North Carolina. There is also a video about the school. Visitors can tour Dr. Brown's residence, known as Canary Cottage, which has been furnished to reflect the 1940s and 1950s, when the school was at its peak. Several dormitories, the dining hall, bell tower, teahouse and several teachers' cottage can also be seen.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s. was founded in 1902 by Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown
Charlotte Hawkins Brown
Charlotte Hawkins Brown was an American educator and academic.Born Lottie Hawkins in Henderson, North Carolina, in the late 1880s her family moved north to settle in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
at Sedalia, North Carolina
Sedalia, North Carolina
Sedalia is a town in Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sedalia is located at ....
near Greensboro
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. Palmer Memorial Institute was named after Alice Freeman Palmer
Alice Freeman Palmer
Alice Freeman Palmer was an American educator.She was born Alice Elvira Freeman in Colesville, New York and brought up in Windsor, New York. Her parents both came from well-to-do families with interests in lumber, dairy farming and land...
, former president of Wellesley College and benefector of Dr. Brown.
It became, before its closure in the 1970s, a fully accredited, nationally recognized preparatory school. More than 1,000 African American students attended the school between 1902 and 1970.
Bennett College purchased the Palmer campus, but in 1980 it sold 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of the main campus with major surviving buildings to the American Muslim Mission. The American Muslim Mission tried to establish a teacher's college but abandoned this project due to the bad condition of the campus.
In late 1982, Maria Cole, a niece of Dr. Brown's and widow of late singer Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, and friend Marie Gibbs of Greensboro began an effort to obtain recognition of Dr. Brown's social and educational contributions, specificially in regards to Palmer Memorial Institute. Both women, who were former students at Palmer Memorial Institute, sponsored meetings of Palmer alumni and enlisted support for this cause. They also met with North Carolina's Division of Archives and History to explore ideas.
Through the assistance of North Carolina Senator Bill Martin, a special bill was passed in the 1983 General Assembly that allowed for planning by Archives and History of the state's first African American state historic site as a memorial to Dr. Brown.
In November 1987, the memorial officially opened as a state historic site.
In 1994, the Historic Sites Section completed exhaustive, comprehensive research on Brown and the Palmer Institute, and restored or stabilized several other structures.
Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum
The restored campus buildings of the Palmer Memorial Institute are now the Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum that links Dr. Brown and Palmer Memorial Institute to the larger themes of African American women, education, and social history, with an emphasis on the contributions made by African American citizens to education in North Carolina.The museum's visitor center is located in the Carrie M. Stone Teachers' Cottage (1948), and features exhibits about Dr. Charlotte Hawkins Brown
Charlotte Hawkins Brown
Charlotte Hawkins Brown was an American educator and academic.Born Lottie Hawkins in Henderson, North Carolina, in the late 1880s her family moved north to settle in Cambridge, Massachusetts...
, the Institute and African American education in North Carolina. There is also a video about the school. Visitors can tour Dr. Brown's residence, known as Canary Cottage, which has been furnished to reflect the 1940s and 1950s, when the school was at its peak. Several dormitories, the dining hall, bell tower, teahouse and several teachers' cottage can also be seen.
External links
- Charlotte Hawkins Brown Museum - located at the site of the Palmer Memorial Institute