Ordinance for the Establishment of Colored High School, 1882

Courtesy of the Baltimore City Archives

On November 1, 1882, the City of Baltimore adopted an ordinance for the establishment of Male and Female Colored High School No. 1, to be house at the Peale building beginning the following year. From 1878 – 1883, the Peale building housed Male & Female Colored Primary School No. 1.

Transcription: "An Ordinance for the establishment of a Colored High School in Baltimore City. Be it enacted and ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore that the Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of the City of Baltimore be and they are hereby authorized and directed to establish a High School for colored children in connection with the colored grammar school as soon as fifteen properly qualified pupils shall present themselves, to be called the Colored High School of Baltimore City, to be presided over by one Professor until the number of pupils shall exceed forty five at a salary of not more than Two thousand dollars per annum, and that the qualifications of pupils for admission shall be the same as for white pupils of the same sex."

Visual Description: A handwritten document in cursive with a quill pen ink on stationary. The words read, "An Ordinance for the establishment of a Colored High School in Baltimore City. Be it enacted and ordained by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore that the Board of Commissioners of Public Schools of the City of Baltimore be and they are hereby authorized and directed to establish a High School for colored children in connection with the colored grammar school as soon as fifteen properly qualified pupils shall present themselves, to be called the Colored High School of Baltimore City, to be presided over by one Professor until the number of pupils shall exceed forty five at a salary of not more than Two thousand dollars per annum, and that the qualifications of pupils for admission shall be the same as for white pupils of the same sex." There is a small watermark of scales of justice with a banner above reading FIAT JUSTICIA and small writing below, "John Murphy, Balto."