San Domingo school, Sharptown, Maryland/NPS

A network of schools created to provide African American education during the Jim Crow era should be memorialized within the National Park System, according to the National Park Service.

Congress in 2020 directed the Park Service to study whether sites associated with the life and legacy of American businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald should be included in the park system.

The study the agency sent to Congress on Friday identifies the San Domingo School in Wicomico County, Maryland, as a candidate to become a national historic site. This school, one of nearly 5,000 built across the South to educate Black children, stands as a powerful testament to the Rosenwald Fund's impact and the determination of African American communities to secure educational opportunities, a Park Service release said. Through the study’s civic engagement process, landowners, and the public expressed support for designating a new national park unit for Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools.

“The two-pronged preservation concept outlined in the National Park Service study is an innovative way to honor the legacy of Julius Rosenwald and the profound impact of the Rosenwald Schools," said Park Service Director Chuck Sams. "We are pleased to share these recommendations with Congress on establishing a national park site and a nationwide network that can help ensure these important diverse stories are not only told, but also celebrated and preserved for generations to come."

The study further recommends that Congress establish a Rosenwald School Network Program, which would provide essential resources and support to the numerous entities across the nation already dedicated to preserving and celebrating these historic schools. A network could also help interpret the pivotal role of Black leaders, such as Booker T. Washington, the Tuskegee Institute, and the role of more than 5,000 Black communities in the development of the schools. A network program could support community-driven preservation and local efforts by partnering with communities to support telling their stories and provide technical assistance and/or grants, pending congressional authorization.

The  study evaluates 14 sites identified by Congress and two additional sites in the study area, individually and collectively, using congressionally established criteria for evaluating the national significance, suitability, feasibility and need for direct NPS management that must be met for a site to be considered for inclusion as a new unit in the National Park System.

The study also explored potential locations for a visitor center in or near Chicago, Rosenwald’s hometown, with options ranging from partnerships with existing institutions to creating innovative parks-to-people experiences.

More information about the Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Special Resource Study is available at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/rosenwald.