Augustine Society Seminary

Neighborhood:Center City

Address:
6th and Addison Sts.
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Significance:
Black leaders founded the Augustine Society in 1818 to create a seminary for educating black children, according to Nash. This was only six months after the Pennsylvania Legislature passed a law creating a comprehensive public education system to educate poor (white) children at public expense. Founders of the society included Absalom Jones, Richard Allen, James Forten, James Gloucester and others, representing all of the religious denominations in the city. By 1822, the seminary was one of 10 black schools with black teachers in the city.

Type of Historic Resource:school

Extant: no