Prudence Crandall Museum

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Forum The Prudence Crandall Museum
Junction Routes 169 & 14
Canterbury, CT 06331
(860) 546 9916
Kazimiera Kozlowski, Museum Curator

Museum Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday - . 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed December 15th to January 31
Admission charged.

The site of New England's first academy for black girls established by Prudence Crandall, 1833-1834. A National Historic Landmark.

Through permanent and changing exhibits a variety of themes are explored at the museum, including Prudence Crandall, black and women's history and local history. "Prudence Crandall Day," held annually the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, offers children's games, crafts demonstrations and sales, entertainment and refreshments.

The museum also includes three period-rooms, a small research library for in-house study (by appointment only) and a gift shop.

In the summer of 1831, Prudence Crandall (born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, 1803) was asked by a group of Canterbury citizens if she would consent to establishing a private academy to instruct local girls and boys. With the purchase of the Luther Paine house (built circa 1805) located on the Canterbury Green, Crandall was able to open the academy in January of 1832, having the complete support and encouragement of the community. Areas of study included reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, moral philosophy, chemistry and astronomy. Tuition was $25.00 per quarter. Public sentiment shifted dramatically, however, when Sarah Harris, a twenty-year old black woman, was admitted to the school in the fall of 1832. Crandall lost much support from the community, and was forced to dismiss those students not already withdrawn by their parents. On April 1, 1833, after conferring with William Lloyd Garrison and other staunch Abolitionists, Crandall reopened the school for the purpose of instructing "young ladies and little misses of color," thus establishing the first academy for black girls in New England.

In response, on May 24, 1833, the General Assembly in Hartford passed the infamous "Black Law" which made it illegal to establish any school or at academy for the instruction of "colored persons who are not inhabitants of this State." (The law was repealed in 1838). In breaking this law, Crandall was arrested, imprisoned overnight in the Brooklyn, Connecticut jail, and endured three court trials. Due to a legal technicality the case was eventually dismissed in July of 1834.

Opinions were not confined to the courtroom, however, and the academy's inhabitants were harassed unmercifully throughout this period of turmoil. The students were jeered at and the building was pelted with stones, eggs, and mud. In January 1834, an unsuccessful attempt was made to set the building on fire. In spite of this, the academy remained open until the night of September 9, 1834. That evening a mob of local residents attacked the academy, breaking some ninety window panes. Fearing for the physical safety of the students, Prudence regretfully decided to close the school. She and her husband, Rev. Calvin Phileo (they were married August 12, 1834), left Canterbury soon afterwards and traveled to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and later to Illinois, where Calvin died in 1874. In 1877, Prudence and her brother Hezekiah bought property in Elk Falls, Kansas, where they spent their remaining years. Prudence Crandall Phileo taught throughout her long life, never failing in her efforts to bring knowledge to all who had the desire to learn.

In 1886, an annuity was initiated in Canterbury on Crandall's behalf, receiving support from such notable Connecticut residents as Mark Twain. In April of that same year, the Connecticut Legislature granted Prudence $400 per year, a sum she received until her death in 1890, at the age of 87.

In reviewing the events which took place at the Crandall Academy, it must be remembered that this was not a singular incident, but rather a local reaction caused by feelings of racism which pervaded American society during this period of our nation's history. Such occurrences were reported nationwide, and were not restricted either to the town of Canterbury or the State of Connecticut.

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		The Prudence Crandall Museum Junction Routes 169 & 14 Canterbury, CT 06331 (860) 546 9916 Kazimiera Kozlowski, Museum Curator Museum Hours: Wednesday - Sunday - . 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM Closed December 15th to January 31 Admission charged. The site of New England's first academy for black girls established by Prudence Crandall, 1833-1834. A National Historic Landmark. Through permanent and changing exhibits a variety of themes are explored at the museum, including Prudence Crandall, black and women's history and local history. "Prudence Crandall Day," held annually the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, offers children's games, crafts demonstrations and sales, entertainment and refreshments. The museum also includes three period-rooms, a small research library for in-house study (by appointment only) and a gift shop. In the summer of 1831, Prudence Crandall (born in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, 1803) was asked by a group of Canterbury citizens if she would consent to establishing a private academy to instruct local girls and boys. With the purchase of the Luther Paine house (built circa 1805) located on the Canterbury Green, Crandall was able to open the academy in January of 1832, having the complete support and encouragement of the community. Areas of study included reading, writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography, history, moral philosophy, chemistry and astronomy. Tuition was $25.00 per quarter. Public sentiment shifted dramatically, however, when Sarah Harris, a twenty-year old black woman, was admitted to the school in the fall of 1832. Crandall lost much support from the community, and was forced to dismiss those students not already withdrawn by their parents. On April 1, 1833, after conferring with William Lloyd Garrison and other staunch Abolitionists, Crandall reopened the school for the purpose of instructing "young ladies and little misses of color," thus establishing the first academy for black girls in New England. In response, on May 24, 1833, the General Assembly in Hartford passed the infamous "Black Law" which made it illegal to establish any school or at academy for the instruction of "colored persons who are not inhabitants of this State." (The law was repealed in 1838). In breaking this law, Crandall was arrested, imprisoned overnight in the Brooklyn, Connecticut jail, and endured three court trials. Due to a legal technicality the case was eventually dismissed in July of 1834. Opinions were not confined to the courtroom, however, and the academy's inhabitants were harassed unmercifully throughout this period of turmoil. The students were jeered at and the building was pelted with stones, eggs, and mud. In January 1834, an unsuccessful attempt was made to set the building on fire. In spite of this, the academy remained open until the night of September 9, 1834. That evening a mob of local residents attacked the academy, breaking some ninety window panes. Fearing for the physical safety of the students, Prudence regretfully decided to close the school. She and her husband, Rev. Calvin Phileo (they were married August 12, 1834), left Canterbury soon afterwards and traveled to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, and later to Illinois, where Calvin died in 1874. In 1877, Prudence and her brother Hezekiah bought property in Elk Falls, Kansas, where they spent their remaining years. Prudence Crandall Phileo taught throughout her long life, never failing in her efforts to bring knowledge to all who had the desire to learn. In 1886, an annuity was initiated in Canterbury on Crandall's behalf, receiving support from such notable Connecticut residents as Mark Twain. In April of that same year, the Connecticut Legislature granted Prudence $400 per year, a sum she received until her death in 1890, at the age of 87. In reviewing the events which took place at the Crandall Academy, it must be remembered that this was not a singular incident, but rather a local reaction caused by feelings of racism which pervaded American society during this period of our nation's history. Such occurrences were reported nationwide, and were not restricted either to the town of Canterbury or the State of Connecticut. Return to Other Institutions Page