History of Sumner High School

Sumner High School of Kansas City, Kansas had its official beginning in 1905, closing in 1978.  This school located at 9th and Washington Boulevard, Kansas City, Kansas served for seventy-three productive years.

Before Sumner High School was founded, all the schools in the State were integrated.  In 1884, the Kansas Legislature authorized mixed schools in the State.  The ideals upon which our nation was founded were practiced in the school system until 1904.  At that time, a fight occurred at a baseball game at Kerr Park between a white boy and a colored boy.  This unfortunate confrontation ended in the death of the white boy who was a student.  This incident was the strongest factor for launching a drive by some white citizens for separation of the races.

Some cool-headed conservatives of both races, in order to avoid further unpleasantness, met at Carnegie Library Building and calmly deliberated the very critical state of affairs created by the death of a white student.   Although the colored boy involved was not a student, and the tragedy did not occur on school property, colored students were barred from attending school at all.  The committee Meeting at the Library adopted the following resolution which was presented by the late Mr. Toothaker, and adopted as quoted below:

       " Whereas, an unfortunate incident, having no bearing on the school system of Kansas
        City, Kansas, aroused the ire of a number of white patrons and white friends of the
       Kansas City, Kansas High School and caused them to use such incident as a pretext
       to eject abruptly al colored students from said high school, to bar the doors against
       them, and to deny them the privilege of attended said school, and whereas, said act
       is a gross violation of the school laws of the State of Kansas, and an infringement of
       the constitutional rights of the colored citizens of Kansas:

       Be it resolved that,
       (1)    We condemn such act as unconstitutional
       (2)    We recommend that the colored students be restored their rights or that in the
       name of justice the school be closed to both races until such laws are enacted by the
       State Legislature, repealing the law providing for mixed high schools in Kansas City,
       Kansas, and enacting a law for separate high schools in Kansas City, Kansas."

The recommendations contained in these resolutions were approved and plans were evolved whereby the colored students took their places in the Kansas City, Kansas High School until the next meeting of the State Legislature which convened in January 1905.

Following the resolution, the Kansas State Legislature repealed the 1884 law and enacted one known as House Bill No. 890 (school segregation bill) in September 1905.  This law provided for the separation of schools in Kansas City, Kansas.  There was no housing for separate schools, therefore the Board of Education decided to have the white students attend the high school in the morning and the colored students in the afternoon.   This was done until a new building could be built.  Mr. M.E. Pearson was the Superintendent of Schools in Kansas City, Kansas at the time.   He stated that if a new school was to be built for coloreds it must be a good one.  He saw to it that this was done.

Sumner High School Building, 1905-1940
9th and Washington Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas

In September 1904, the new school, then without a name, was opened.  At the time of opening, no name had been decided upon.  The faculty was composed of four highly qualified teachers, namely:

    Mr. J.E. Patterson, Principal
    Mr. G.F. Porter, Latin Teacher/Assistant Principal
    Mrs. Florence Crews, English
    Mr. G.B. Buster, History

History records show that there were six graduates, all girls in 1906.  However, checking with the Board of Education, only five are listed:

    (1)    Fannie Bradford
    (2)    Mamie Brown
    (3)    Myrtle Jackson
    (4)    Grace Williams
    (5)    Nellie Williams

In June 1905, the name SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL, was chosen as the name for this newly built school.  The name did not come without serious deliberation and determination to find one that would exemplify high principle.  Finally, when the name was agreed upon, it was in honor of Charles Sumner (1819-1874), a national statesman from Massachusetts-an Antislavery Leader, and scholar of the highest rank.  Names they had to pick from included such prestigious names as George Washington, Frederick Douglass, Charles Sumner and Abraham Lincoln.  The Committee agreed on one name as more appropriate because of the qualities possessed by Charles Sumner, including courage.  The four men who made this timely decision in choosing the name SUMNER were:

   M.E. Pearson, Superintendent of Schools
   J.E. Patterson, later Principal of Sumner from 1905-1908
   G.F. Porter, Latin Teacher/Assistant Principal
   G.B. Buster, History Teacher, and later Vice Principal who retired in 1948

Peering into the life of Charles Sumner reveals not only an outstanding scholar, but also one whose goals and ideals were deeply rooted on high morals and Christian beliefs.  He succeeded Daniel Webster in the Senate.  As a Senator, he entered immediately into the struggle for emancipation.  He almost lot his life in the struggle.  Because of his views on freedom from slavery and equal rights, he was beaten into unconsciousness on the Senate floor by Representative Preston S. Brooks (1819-1857).

The faculty from the very beginning was noted for the high ranking of its staff.  Even as early as 1930, forty-four percent not only had Bachelor Degrees, but Masters Degrees as well.  The school had membership in the North Central Association of Secondary Schools.   Sumner High School conformed to the high standards set by N.C.A.S.S.

The Curriculum kept current with that of high schools throughout the nation.   Extra-curricula activities, vocational and educational guidance were added.  The student body participated on a wide scale with outside competition with honor.  The support from Sumner High School, with the cooperation of the Superintendent of Schools and members of the Board of Education, made possible the position of admiration enjoyed by Sumner High School even today.

Change is inevitable.  At the time Sumner was built, it was considered modern.  As time progressed, it became inadequate.   New advanced programs, increased attendance and progress in general demanded more modern as well as increased facilities.  The halls were designed for 300 not 800 pupils.  Due to no more classrooms being available, many teachers carried a class load of forty or more.  This was far above the standard.   In the 1930's a movement had begun for a new school.  Representative William (Bill) Towers was in the Legislature and was prominent in this endeavor.

The wheels of progress continued.  Ground was purchased at 8th and Oakland for the construction of a new school and athletic field on December 15, 1939, a move was made to the new Sumner High School.  The cream and tan building stands as a beautiful, outstanding masterpiece of architecture.   The architect was Joseph Radotinsky.  The new Sumner was occupied January 2, 1940.  There were now 24 teachers and 800 students with John A. Hodge continuing as Principal.

Sumner High School Building, 1940-1978
8th and Oakland, Kansas City, Kansas

In the Spring of 1978, Sumner High School closed.  Was Sumner a victim or benefactor of change and desegregation demands?  The building reopened in the fall of 1978.  It is known as Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences.  It is a magnet school for highly motivated and academically talented students.  To this extent, it continues in the same high aims as its beginning founders had in mind for the first school.

In the seventy-three years that Sumner High School continued, there were only six Principals as follows:

   1905-1908         J.E. Patterson
   1908-1916         J.M. Marquess
   1916-1951         J.A. Hodge
   1951-1972         S.H. Thompson
   1972-1973         Jerry Collier
   1973-1978         James Boddie

Graduating Class of 1978

Under a federally mandated plan for racial integration of schools in Kansas City, Kansas, Sumner was closed in 1978. But the legacy of pride and achievement that Sumner High School created has continued. In 1985, graduates of Sumner High School convened a national reunion and ten years later held a national convention. The second national convention of Sumner Alumni was held in July 2000.

It is fitting to recall the words of an African American educator of 1935:

      "Sumner is a child not of our own volition but rather an offspring of the race antipathy

      of a bygone period.  It was a veritable blessing in disguise - a flower of which we may

      proudly say, 'The bud had a bitter taste, but sweet indeed is the flower'."