Historic Newton is pleased to announce that we have received a $20,000 grant from the Expand Mass Stories initiative from Mass Humanities. We are one of 42 cultural non-profits to receive a grant for projects that will reexamine and reimagine the story of Massachusetts. For the full list of grantees, visit the Mass Humanities website.
These funds, made available with the support of the Mass Cultural Council, will go towards creating the documentary film, “An Uncommon Education,” which examines a pioneering educational experiment in West Newton. At a time when slavery was still the law of the land and women’s suffrage yet a distant goal, the West Newton English and Classical School admitted Black students, foreign students, and women to a forward-looking program of study. Founded in 1854 and led by Nathaniel T. Allen, the school (often called the Allen School) empowered its students to develop their talents, while moving society decisively toward gender and racial equality.
The Allen School advanced a radical new vision of social and educational equality in the United States in the last half of the 19th century. This is a story that has not been told before in film and not fully told in the written histories. As such, it will restore a forgotten piece of history in Massachusetts -- a state that values education and was an early pioneer in fostering inclusion. “An Uncommon Education” will help current generations make connections that point us toward a more just society.
Additional funding to produce the film is needed. For more information and to make a donation of any amount, please visit our web page here.
###
About Historic Newton
Historic Newton connects our community with its history in order to enrich future generations. Along with operating two museums, the Jackson Homestead (a former stop on the Underground Railroad) and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, Historic Newton presents programs that inspire discovery and engagement in history.
About Mass Humanities
Mass Humanities, a non-profit foundation based in Northampton, creates opportunities for the people of Massachusetts to transform their lives and build a more equitable commonwealth through the humanities. Since its founding in 1974, the organization has provided millions of dollars in support of thousands of humanities projects across the Commonwealth. Established as the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Mass Humanities is an independent programming and grant-making organization that receives support from the NEH and the Massachusetts Cultural Council as well as private sources. For more information, visit masshumanities.org.
