Early Topeka Education TImeline

1855--First school at No. 32 Madison Street;  Miss Sarah Harlan was the first teacher, with Miss Jennie Allen and Miss Carrie Whiting teaching brief periods.

1856--Miss Allen teaches school in Constitution Hall (ousted so the legislature can meet there)

 1857 --New England Emigrant Aid Company builds school for $200 at SW corner of 5th and Harrison; schools supported by voluntary contributions although anyone could attend

1862--School tax levied

1864--Baptist Hall at No. 191 Kansas Avenue is rented for school

1865--S 6th between Kans as and Quincy is rented as a school for black children

        --2 room school at 6th and Harrison

1866--White children take over 1st floor of 6th street school and black children are moved to the attic

1867--Schools overflowing, classes held in Gale's Block and in the basement of a building on SW 7th and Kansas

    --North Topeka (Eugene) opens first school at 128 N Kansas Ave.

    --Topeka Board of Education organized

    --School session was 36 weeks;9 teachers; 695 students (KS census lists 710 children both black and white of school age)

    --No. 232 Kansas Ave, formerly a black church; was rented as a school for black children

1868--Emigrant Aid Company's school building is sold and rooms are rented at No. 241 Kansas Ave. 

    --Evening schools opened, one in Harrison and black school; session lasted 5 weeks

    --WH Butterfield superinedent

    --Lincoln School built at No.50-54 Monroe Street for a cost of $55,000

    --School built at 13th and Quincy

1869--2nd Annual Report from the Board of Education defines the school year as 9 months with 180 days including some holidays.  

1887-88--Individual student records 

1893--- A model High School building was constructed in 1893 on the northwest corner of Harrison street and Eighth avenue, at a cost of $85,000

1904-- Manual Training School was completed on the southwest corner of the same streets, at a cost of $100,000

1905--Other schools listed in King's History

     --Sisters of Charity  School at No. 723 Jackson street

    --German Catholic Church School at 3rd and Van Buren

     -- Studio of Voice Culture and Piano Instruction, No. 816 Kansas avenue

    -- Dougherty's Shorthand School, No. 118 West Eighth avenue

    -- Standard School of Shorthand and Typewriting, No. 63o Kansas avenue

    -- Topeka Business College, No. 523 Quincy street

    -- Pond's Business College, No. 521 Kansas 

    -- Homeopathic Night School, No. 704 Kansas avenue, Dr. Eva Harding, president

--Art Studio,	630 Kansas
--School of Dramatic Art, 816 Kansas

--Music Studio, 109 W 6th
--School of Pianoforte Playing, 722 Kansas Ave.
--Violin Studio, No. 704 Kansas avenue
--Reid-Stone School of Art, No. 501 Jackson street,

 

 1907--Topeka Grade Teachers' Club formed in secret as it was thought that Board of Education would not approve

 1910--Principals Club organized by LD Whittemore, Superintendent

1911--Teachers who have taught 30 years or more in a first-class city are granted a $500/yr pension . The pension was to be paid by contributions or assessments paid by teachers and appropriation by the Board of Education at a fixed ratio set by law.  This was part of the work of the Topeka Grade Teacher's Club.

1912--Parent Teacher Organizations began in elementary schools

1915--Topeka High School Guild formed (for THS teachers)

1927--Roosevelt Junior High opens at 200 Quincy (on the site of the old Nickel Plate elementary school)

1931--Topeka Teacher's Association organized--provided teachers with insurance and established the Teacher's Credit Union in 1939

1941--Topeka High School Teachers Guild was changed to the High School Teachers' Guild 

1952--Topeka Grade Teachers Club is formed