The Lewes Historical Society will be showing the film "A Separate Place," regarding the schools P.S. DuPont built across Delaware in the early twentieth century. An image from the film "A Separate Place: The Schools that P.S. duPont Built" showing an early graduating class from Howard High School, the only free black high school in Delaware until the 1950s, is above.

Lewes, Del. -- In its continuing tradition of recognizing the importance of African American History Month, The Lewes Historical Society will present the award winning film "A Separate Place: the Schools P.S. duPont Built" at its Friday, February 23 program. The film which has been aired widely at many schools in Delaware will be introduced by Executive Producer Dr. Jeanne Nutter, a professor of communications at Bloomsbury College in New Jersey. The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lewes Presbyterian Church Hall, Kings Highway and Franklin Streets.

"A Separate Place" tells the story of efforts by African Americans to obtain quality education during the period when Delaware mandated racial segregation in its schools. It shows that education was a priority for the black community since it provided one of the only vehicles for economic advancement during the Jim Crow era. This documentary links the history of African American education in Delaware to contemporary concerns about educational quality and current efforts by black Delawarians to preserve, restore, and reclaim their former schools as sites of African American culture and heritage.

Dr. Nutter comes from a long-established family of black educators in Delaware. In the last 20 years her activities include five years at the Metropolitan Center for Education Research, Development and Training at New York University, a year as a consultant for the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, as well as stints at the John D. Rockefeller Fund, NBC Radio, and WNBC-TV.

She also produced "Jane Mitchell: African American Nurse," "Rev. Maurice Moyer: Civil Rights Activist" and "Dr. Eugene McGowan: African American School Psychologist." The films on Jane Mitchell and Rev. Maurice Moyer were part of an African American Film Festival at Hagley Museum in February 2006.

Dr. Nutter will discuss how the film which focuses on the 89 schools built by Pierre S. du Pont in the 1920s for the African American community shows that these schools became centers for black education and pride. Appalled at Delaware's backward educational system, du Pont spent more than $6 million to rebuild the state's school system, including more than $1 million for Howard High School, the only free black high school in the state until the 1950s.

This program is an ideal opportunity for all residents in the Lewes community as well as teachers and students to gain awareness, understanding and knowledge of how the climate for education equality evolved in Delaware "up close and personal" from the film and such a distinguished educator as Dr. Nutter. The program is free and the public is cordially invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation.

©2002-2005 The Lewes Historical Society