Timber Farms

Iron Hill Museum and other Old African-American Schools

Delaware's African-American Schools of the 1920-30's

By Vanessa Manges-Spence

It seems education is always being reformed. Back in 1915 a federal study ranked Delaware schools 39^th in 48 states.  Much discussion and the interruptions of World War I delayed Delaware's reaction but finally in 1919 Delaware passed a new school code that included rebuilding of the states one-room schools for white students.  Although some of the tax money collected from white taxpayers would improve African-American schools they would not be rebuilt in accordance with new architectural designs and the Progressive Era's nationwide social reform.  A school was considered a highly specialized building and its design was a key issue aimed to improve overall education.

Pierre Samuel duPont took a personal concern for the African-American students in all of the small rural areas of the state.  In 1919, he stepped down form the helm of the family run company and devoted his time and two million dollars of his own to the rebuilding of these 80 schools.  

His motivation and ideas were not unique since similar initiatives were taking place in 14 of the southern states.  Rosenwald, an early partner of the Sears, Roebuck company, helped finance about 5,300 African-American schools there.

In 1926, Mr. duPont predicted the success of the nation's educational system to the success of his Delaware Initiative.  He invited other states to do the same. In 1938, a new federal study showed Delaware had advanced to eighth place in 48 states.

Several of these schools are still here today as evidence of this progressive effort by Mr. duPont.  The closest two are Iron Hill Museum, located on old Baltimore Pike about 1.5 miles west of Rt. 896.  The other is being refurbished, after it burned years ago, with the guided efforts of grown students of the school, in the town of Christiana.  

Donations of money and/or building materials are being accepted by the Afro-American Historical Society of DE, located in Wilmington 571-9300 for the rebuilding and preservation of these schools in Delaware.