Join the DC History Center and Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives for a book talk about the history of Black public education and school architecture in the nation’s capital.
Education is essential for social equality, and Black Washingtonians recognize that for the American Dream to apply to them, their children need a quality education. In Model Schools in the Model City: Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation’s Capital, author Amber N. Wiley explains how DC school buildings became a physical realization of Black liberation, agency, and their right to exist as citizens of the United States.
On Thursday, October 23, join us at the DC History Center for Dr. Wiley’s first book talk in Washington, DC, moderated by Kimberly E. Springle, Executive Director of the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives.
Can’t make it? Watch the livestream at 6 pm: www.youtube.com/@DCHistoryChannel/streams
Pre-order has closed. A limited stock of books will be available for purchase onsite.
Purchase a book at checkout ($79.50, including tax) to be picked up during the program. Purchasing a book through registration guarantees you a copy and supports our mission. A limited number of books may be available onsite.
Amber N. Wiley, PhD, is the Wick Cary Director of the Institute for Quality Communities at The University of Oklahoma. Wiley has over 20 years of experience in historic preservation, architecture, and community engagement. Through her teaching, research, and professional practice, she intends to advance the history and narrative of design and preservation in Black communities. Amber received her PhD in American Studies from George Washington University. She also holds an MA in Architectural History and a Certificate in Historic Preservation (University of Virginia School of Architecture) and a BA in Architecture (Yale University). She is a native of Oklahoma City with roots in Washington, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, and Arkansas.
Kimberly E. Springle is a Public Historian, Cultural Preservationist, and Entrepreneur. For 17 years, Kimberly has served as the Executive Director of Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives. Credited with transforming and shaping this cultural gem, she stewards the 153-year old historic school site and serves as the Historian and Archivist for the DC Public School System. Kimberly is also the Founder and Principal Consultant of GTMS Legacy Enterprises, LLC. Kimberly earned her MA in History Museum Studies (SUNY, Oneonta, Cooperstown Graduate Program) and was honored in 2020 as an Alumni of Distinction. She earned a BA in History with a Minor in African American Studies (College of Charleston). She is a native of Greenville, South Carolina.
Hosted by the DC History Center in partnership with Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives. Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives is the official museum and archives for DC Public Education. In addition to a public research library, the local gem contains various exhibits documenting the history of the people, places, and movements that make up the DC Public School System. The Sumner School, erected in 1872, is one of the earliest public school buildings for African American children in the nation’s capital. The Museum was founded in 1986 and its mission is to engage diverse audiences by facilitating meaningful discovery, bridging past and present, and fostering a sense of pride in DC Public Education.
Class Action explores how DC’s Black communities advocated for educational opportunities for their children. Follow your curiosity and deepen your understanding of DC history through educational book talks, game nights, panel discussions, documentary screenings, and more, throughout the year. Connect with family, meet your neighbors, and play with new friends at lively programs meant to encourage civic engagement and inspire you to make a difference in your community.
Model Schools in the Model City: Race, Planning, and Education in the Nation’s Capital by author Amber N. Wiley. Purchase your own copy when you register!
Author Amber N. Wiley, PhD
Moderator Kimberly E. Springle, Executive Director, Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives
Interior view of lower levels in Dunbar High School. District of Columbia Public School Records, Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives, Washington, DC.