The former Charles Sumner school like the Thaddeus Stevens school, point to a time when Foggy Bottom, like Georgetown had a significant African American population, significant enough to warrant the dedication of separate schools for the "colored" students in the area. Today the Stevens school is vacant, pending rehabilitation and repurposing and the Sumner School houses the D.C. Public School museum and archives.
In an attempt to maximize my day, I wanted to get to the museum early so that I could take my time in the space and with the installation(s). According to the website, the archives are by appointment only and the museum opens at 9 a.m. According to Google, the museum would open an hour later. As I already trust Google with entirely too much I decided to arrive at 9 and was pleasantly surprised that a D.C. government website was right.
Built by Adolf Cluss (1825-1905) the famed architect of Eastern Market and the whites only Franklin School at 13th and K Streets, the building has an immediate look of elegance that none of the schools I attended came close too. I should also note that immediately felt the space to me haunted. Not by ghosts or spirits but by being in such a still space, in a busy area on a weekday morning. I followed the advice of the attendant and took the elevator to the third floor to begin my tour. I thought that I was just early because a lot of the lights were dim until I entered the rooms but this was just their being energy efficient which I appreciated. What I appreciated most was the varied memorabilia from various D.C. Public Schools. The collection was not reduced to yearbooks, band uniforms and desks; there were pianos from music classes, a restored lecture hall replete with photos of prominent African women throughout and tributes to important educators and administrators. Most of all, I enjoyed the class photos from what seemed like every decade of the twentieth century. These portraits of entire classes, which included the likes of Dr. Charles Drew and Marvin Gaye are great indicators of how neighborhood demographics have changed so significantly across the District.
Even without state-of-the-art Human Computer Interface or a fun gift shop like many other local museums. The comprehensive telling of D.C.P.S. history in an hour's time in a free museum, makes a visit well worthwhile. I only recommend that you don't visit alone because after I told the attendant that I found the space spooky, she said that I was not the first person to share that sentiment. read more