Institute for Colored Youth
Also known as: Randall,Samuel J.,School
Why it's listed
Located on Bainbridge Street in Philadelphia, this school building was used by the Institute for Colored Youth from 1866, after the institute moved from its original site on Lombard Street. The Institute had been chartered by the State of Pennsylvania in 1842 to educate Black boys and girls, and it was one of the first schools in the nation devoted solely to educating Black youth. It remained in this school and nearby buildings until 1903, when it relocated to Cheney, Delaware County. The Philadelphia School Board bought the building that year and hired Edward Fay to renovate it for public school use. Much of its earlier appearance was kept, so the building was an example of an older school design when it was acquired. It retained Italianate styling, popular in the 1860s and 1870s, and a double-loaded corridor plan based on the earlier Sloan Plan. Its significance rests on its link to the Institute and on this surviving earlier school design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as part of the facilities of one of the oldest schools in the country devoted to educating Black youth. It also notes that when the school board bought it, the building still showed an earlier school design, including Italianate styling and a double-loaded corridor plan based on the Sloan Plan.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86003324, listed December 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | Tenth and Bainbridge Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003324 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.94209, -75.15951 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86003324.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6039223
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.