What’s the story?
Widener University traces its origins to the Bullock School, a Quaker school for boys starting in 1821. The school changed names and headmasters several times. By 1859, the school became known as Delaware Military Academy and military training was an integral part of the curriculum.In 1862, headmaster Theodore Hyatt was “compelled to leave” Delaware, due to his sympathies for the Union and reluctance to remain in a slave-owing state. Initially, the school settled in West Chester, occupying the site of the former Bolmar School. A letter, published in a Philadelphia newspaper cast some doubts on Hyatt’s Union loyalties. This prompted the signing of a certificate by local government officials, attesting to the “loyalty of Colonel Hyatt, and the excellency of the school.” A bill of incorporation was read in the Pennsylvania Legislature and the school received a charter in Pennsylvania soon after this. To further demonstrate the loyalty of the school to the Union cause, in 1863 PMA cadets volunteered to help Pennsylvania Governor Curtin combat General Lee’s forces at Gettysburg.
More details
theme: Power of Placesubjects: Pennsylvania Military Academy — Curricula – Catalogs; Civil War – Battlefields – United States
contributing repository: Widener University
submitted by: Staff member
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