A Historical Chronology: The Quest for an Education

The Upper Marlboro area of Prince George’s County has a long history of educational advocacy. Although many earlier alums have heard via “oral history” about the “beginning” of our beloved alma mater, particularly its connection to the Methodist Church in Upper Marlboro, this chronology is presented so that FDHS alumni have an even more comprehensive perspective of the depth of and commitment to the struggle to bring education to what is now commonly referred to as southern Prince George’s County. This timeline is based primarily on research conducted over the years by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (Park & Planning). The work of Park and Planning in documenting the push for educational opportunity in this part of the County is the most definitive that could be found and provides insight about early efforts that would lead to the eventual establishment of our beloved Frederick Douglass High School of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

1863

Effective date of Emancipation Proclamation.

1865

13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery-Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (commonly referred to as Freedmen’s Bureau) was established in the War Department; one of its purposes was to assist former slaves, in obtaining and having access to education; U.S. Archives Department cites its existence from 1865 to 1872; Maryland was a state in which the Freedmen’s Bureau operated.

1865 - 1867

Three former slaves purchased 5 acres from Frederick Sasscer, former slaveowner of Upper Marlboro. The former slaves, Henson & Nicholas Greenleaf (brothers) and George Boulding were members of Washington Colored Methodist Conference (the Conference); they were instrumental in the formation of the Free Colored School Society; the three former slaves were president, treasurer, and secretary of the Free Colored School Society. They and the community advocated for a school for colored children in Upper Marlboro. Classes held at Union Chapel.

1867 - 1868

School under construction.

1868

March 1 – School construction completed.
April 1 – George Boulding directed to open the school.
April 11 – The first teacher, Jerome Johnson, arrived in Upper Marlboro; he named the school Prince George’s Seminary.
April 14 – First day of classes in Marlboro schoolhouse; primary and intermediate level classes taught during the day and in the evening.

1869

February 5 visit by Freedmen’s Bureau Field Agent John Butler who reported 69 scholars enrolled.

1872

Board of School Commissioners appointed William Smith, Leonard Tasker, Isaiah Gray trustees to United Methodist Colored School #1, District 3.

1877

New building constructed on an additional acre the Greenleafs and Boulding had purchased from Sasscer – one room, wood frame & two outhouses; this building remained the only school until 1921. The Marlboro school was overcrowded, and space was being rented for $ 6 per month from the St. Mary’s Beneficial Society (a hall built for Black Roman Catholics in Upper Marlboro).

1892

Board of School Commissioners directed to buy a site for construction of colored school within Upper Marlboro.

1921

New school constructed for white students; their old school moved to Valley Lane area of Upper Marlboro to serve as school for Colored students.

1923

Colored Public School Trustees Association report of conditions of Black schools in the county described two buildings, i.e., the two buildings in Upper Marlboro.

1926

Year the first class believed to have graduated from Marlboro High School

1930

October 14 – Parents requested a new building.
November 11 – PTA sought bond issue to purchase 5 ½ acres on Washington Marlboro Pike.

1931

March 10 – Board recommended that state grant authority for bond issue to erect Marlboro Colored High School.

1935 - 1936

During this school year, the name changed from Marlboro High School to Frederick Douglass High School.

1936

First class to graduate under school's new name, Frederick Douglass High School.

1960

New school opened in April and the first class graduated in the spring from the present location 8000 Croom Road.