Colored Orphan Asylum

Colored Orphan Asylum. Founded in 1836, it was one of the first institutions in the United States dedicated to the care of African American children. Established by Quaker women Anna Shotwell and Mary Murray, the asylum provided shelter, education, and vocational training to orphaned and destitute Black youths in New York City. Its history is deeply intertwined with the city's social fabric, marked by both humanitarian mission and violent racial conflict, most notably during the New York City draft riots.

History

The institution was incorporated in 1836, emerging from the charitable work of the Female Assistance Society and the Manumission Society. Its first location was on West 12th Street in Greenwich Village, before moving to a larger facility on Fifth Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets in 1843. The asylum's creation reflected both the philanthropic impulses of abolitionist-leaning Quakers and the severe lack of social services for African Americans in antebellum New York City. Throughout the 19th century, it operated under the auspices of the Association for the Benefit of Colored Orphans, navigating the complex racial politics of the era while expanding its services. Key figures in its early governance and medical care included the pioneering physician James McCune Smith, who served as its medical director.

Architecture and facilities

The asylum's primary building on Fifth Avenue was a four-story structure designed in the Greek Revival style, situated on a four-acre lot. The campus included separate wings for boys and girls, schoolrooms, a dining hall, an infirmary, and expansive grounds for recreation and gardening. Later, in 1907, the institution moved to a new, modern campus at Riverdale in the Bronx, which featured updated facilities designed to house hundreds of children. These facilities emphasized a cottage system, aiming to provide a more homelike environment, and included dedicated spaces for industrial training as part of its educational mission.

Notable residents and staff

Among its notable staff was the distinguished academic and abolitionist Charles L. Reason, who served as a teacher and later as a professor at New York Central College. The asylum's medical director, James McCune Smith, was the first African American to earn a medical degree, which he obtained from the University of Glasgow. While records of specific child residents are less documented, the institution cared for thousands, including the sister of the famous Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge. The leadership also included members of prominent New York City philanthropic families involved with institutions like the New-York Historical Society.

Role in the New York City draft riots

During the violent New York City draft riots of July 1863, the asylum became a primary target for the predominantly Irish American mobs opposing the Enrollment Act and fueled by racial animosity. Rioters looted and completely burned the Fifth Avenue building to the ground, forcing over 200 children to flee for their lives. The children and staff were escorted to safety by the New York City Police Department and later found temporary refuge at the 35th Street Police Station and on Blackwell's Island. This attack was a pivotal and devastating event in the asylum's history, starkly illustrating the intense racial tensions in the Northern United States during the American Civil War.

Closure and legacy

The institution continued its mission at its Riverdale campus into the 20th century. However, evolving social welfare philosophies, the growth of foster care systems, and demographic shifts in New York City led to its closure in 1946. Its assets and responsibilities were transferred to the Riverdale Children's Association. The legacy of the Colored Orphan Asylum endures as an early and critical effort in child welfare and African American institutional history. Its story is preserved in the archives of the New-York Historical Society and serves as a sobering reminder of racial violence during the draft riots, often examined in studies of Reconstruction and urban history.

Category:Orphanages in the United States Category:History of African Americans in New York City Category:1836 establishments in New York (state) Category:1946 disestablishments in New York (state)