The Promise Academy at Roberts Vaux High School | |
Location | 230-2344 W. Master St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°58′34″N75°10′29″W / 39.97611°N 75.17472°W |
Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
Built | 1936-1938 |
Architect | Catharine, Irwin T. |
Architectural style | Moderne, Art Deco |
MPS | Philadelphia Public Schools TR |
NRHP reference No. | 88002332 [1] |
Added to NRHP | November 18, 1988 |
The Promise Academy at Roberts Vaux High School (commonly referred to as the Roberts Vaux Promise Academy) is an historic, American high school building that is located in the North Central neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Named for American jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist Roberts Vaux (1786-1836), it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. [1]
Designed by Irwin T. Catharine and built between 1936 and 1938, [2] this historic structure is a four-story, twenty-three-bay, U-shaped, yellow brick building that was created in a Moderne/Art Deco style. It features projecting end pavilions, terra cotta decorative work, and a two-story, stone, Tudor-arched entryway. [3]
It was named for American jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist Roberts Vaux (1786-1836). Jacob C. White, Jr. served as principal from 1864 to 1896 and was the first black school principal in Philadelphia. During his tenure, White reformed the institute and became the leading figure in the field of urban education in Philadelphia.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Vaux developed a positive reputation for creating national and state chess champions. Mathematics teacher Jeff Chesin coached the team that first decade, but the team disbanded when Chesin Vaux left for another school. It was then resurrected during the 1990s by special education teacher Salome Thomas-Elwho later became the school's principal. During the early 2000s, the chess program disbanded again.
While teaching at Vaux High in North Philadelphia during the 2000s, rugby player Larry Conlan saw a need for his students to positively channel their aggression and started an after-school rugby club in 2012.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, [1] the school was closed in 2013 as part of Philadelphia's shutdown of twenty-three district-run schools. [4] Displaced students were enrolled in Strawberry Mansion High School and Benjamin Franklin High School. [5] The school then reopened for the 2017–2018 academic year under the new leadership of Big Picture Philadelphia. [6]
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Vaux may refer to:
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Roberts Vaux was an American lawyer, jurist, abolitionist, and philanthropist.
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Jacob "Jake" C. White Jr. was an American educator, intellectual, and civil rights activist. Born to a successful and influential businessman, White received the finest education afforded to African-Americans of the time and became intertwined in the dealings of Philadelphia's most prominent black leaders. The first black man in the city to be appointed as a school principal, White is recognized for his position at Roberts Vaux Consolidated School. During his tenure between 1864 and 1896, White reformed the institute and became the leading figure in the field of urban education in Philadelphia. Alongside his academic endeavors, White was significant in the sports field: he helped establish the Philadelphia Pythians, an early black baseball club. Following the shooting of his friend and fellow activist Octavius Catto in 1871, White became the top civil rights activist in the city, and remained active in the community until his death in 1902.