This new survey would create a public archive of measured drawings, historical reports, and large-format black-and-white photographs of important and representative examples of our built environment. The program has been motivated from its inception by the need to mitigate the effects of rapidly vanishing historic resources throughout America’s built environment as well as its history and culture. While creating a lasting archive for future generations, the HABS also contains period-specific architectural details to aid in the restoration and interpretation of historic properties. Whether it’s our communities or monuments, historic structures engender a sense of pride and belonging. Some of our greatest achievements as a society are manifested by structures innovative in their construction technology, beautiful to behold, and evocative of our shared experience. One such structure is the Monroe Elementary School building in Topeka, Kansas. Constructed in 1926, the structure that would go on to host the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, was designed by prolific Topeka architect, Thomas Williamson. The same architect who produced hundreds of buildings in Topeka and across the state, including Topeka High School and a school comparable counterpart to Monroe, Randolph Elementary, for white students. The historic landscape and structures of Monroe Elementary School are primary physical resources associated with the landmark Brown v. Board decision, as several plaintiffs attended school in the building during the proceedings. There is not a great deal of written, graphic, or photographic documentation of the Monroe School landscape during the 1950-1954 period. However, a HABS study conducted in the 1990’s, oral testimony, and what writings that exist provide a fairly coherent image of the historic landscape.Since being declared a National Historic Site in December 1992, the school building and surrounding property have been under the management of the National Park Service. Monroe School was opened to the public in 2004 and currently features interpretive programs to inform and educate visitors on local and national issues relating to the Brown v. Board decision. Sources / Additional Reading: Library of Congress HABS for Monroe Elementary National Park Service Monroe Elementary School Cultural Landscape National Park Service Heritage Documentation Programs |
Last updated: March 31, 2022