Benezet's School / Quaker African School House

Neighborhood:Center City

Address:
Willings Alley
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Significance:
A prolific anti-slavery pamphleteer, Anthony Benezet (1713-1784) taught white Quaker children by day and black children by night at his home at 3rd and Chestnut Streets. Later, largely due to his efforts, the Quakers established the Free African School for blacks. The school was aimed at free black children, but accepted slave children when space allowed. Benezet often taught black adults at the school at night. He left funds at his death in 1784 that led to the formation of the Raspberry Street School (see entry).

Type of Historic Resource:school