FCS DISCOVERED
Striving to Live Out the Integrity We Profess BY JIM DAVIS
T
he FCS archives contain a wealth of historical material, including documents, artifacts, clothing, and photos from our past. Deeds from the 18th century, student ledgers from 1845, yearbooks from 1893, diplomas from 1874, and class photos dating from 1880 are among some of the fascinating items in our collection. Archives are more than a repository of relics from the past; they inform us about our history, and they should and do help us to understand our present. They shaped who we are today.
welcoming environment for openly GLBT students or faculty. Our first display explores these two issues and the ways in which the School has worked toward being true to our ideals. On the left panel of the exhibit are some documents relating to the eventual admission of African American students. Richard McFeely, Head of School from 1945 to 1948, was the prime mover in this regard. He was deeply troubled by our discriminatory admission policy and took steps to bring us closer to that integrity we professed. An avid athlete, he was a
the language is very much of its time. The record also shows that FCS was hardly a leader in efforts to open admissions to African Americans – a sobering fact. But then, history is not supposed to be a gloss on the past, it searches the past for truth. Richard McFeely had the integrity to change us. He is a name we should all know. All who have been a part of our history have made us the School we are today, but surely he deserves a singular place in that history. The first African American students were admitted in 1949, and the display
As we ponder aspects of our past, it should make us proud of our present. In the hopes of enriching our understanding, the final weeks of December saw the installation of a new display board in Shallcross Hall. Exhibits from our archives are being featured throughout the year. Each has an organizing theme, exploring some aspect of Friends’ Central School. The current exhibit’s theme is “Striving to live out the integrity we profess.” We certainly aspire to the goal of living, teaching, and learning with integrity. That goal is sometimes difficult to achieve, as we all know – hence the “striving.” Sometimes we fall short; sometimes we rise to our witness. From the very beginning, FCS admitted both girls and boys, as well as accepting children from non-Quaker homes. However, admission was not open to African-American students until the mid 20th century, nor was FCS always a 36
FRIENDS’ CENTRAL SCHOOL
student at Swarthmore College when he was struck with polio. He recuperated at Warm Springs, Georgia where he met and became friends with Franklin Roosevelt. “Two of the most valuable lessons of my life grew out of this crippling attack,” he later wrote. “My mother taught me that no one ever finds life worth living. One always has to make it worth living. I have found the answer in the attitudes we hold and the quality of our spirit; not outward circumstances.” Out of the centeredness of that deeply humane man came a letter to the FCS community explaining his evolution on open admissions, excerpts of which were on display in Shallcross. There is also an excerpt from his presentation to the faculty in 1948, followed by minutes of the subsequent discussion as to how best to proceed. It was not an easy discussion, and
features Sylvia Hill ’53, the first African American to graduate. She went on to be the director of the National Museum of African American Art in Washington, D.C. On display in the right panel are some materials marking the founding and presence of our Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) – another example of FCS “striving to live out our integrity.” 1998 was the year the GSA was founded, and it has been a crucial part of our community’s life. The picture included in the exhibit is of seniors from the Class of 2009 at the GSA dance from that year. The archives help us to celebrate in an honest and transparent way who we are. Alumni/ae celebrating your Reunion this year, we invite you to come and take a look when you’re on campus in May. As we ponder aspects of our past, it should make us proud of our present. QW