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Isaiah Vansant Williamson
On December 1, 1888, Isaiah Vansant Williamson, a Philadelphia merchant and philanthropist, founded the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. His purpose in founding the school was to provide financially disadvantaged young men with the opportunity to become productive and respected members of society. In his own words, “It was seeing boys, ragged and barefooted, lounging on the streets, growing up with no education, no idea of usefulness, that caused me to think of founding a school where every boy could be taught some trade free of expense.”
I.V. Williamson was born in 1803 in Fallsington, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to a Quaker family whose ancestors came to America before William Penn. As a boy, Williamson worked as an apprentice in a country store, saving enough money to open his own dry goods store in Philadelphia. For a number of years, he ran the store and several subsequent businesses quite successfully, enabling him to retire in 1838 with a small fortune. Adopting the custom of wealthy young men at that time, he traveled throughout Europe for a couple years.
Upon his return, Williamson began a plan for investing his money and by 1880 had become one of the wealthiest men in Philadelphia. As his wealth grew, he turned to philanthropy, giving away much of his fortune. A self-effacing man, he anonymously gave large sums to favorite charities, hospitals, colleges, and homes for children. The founding of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades with a two-million-dollar endowment was one of his last charitable acts before he died in 1889.
In founding the school, Williamson directed through a deed of trust that the Quaker ideals of hard work, honesty, religious faith, and modest lifestyle be instilled in the students. In his own words, he said that “in this country every able-bodied, healthy young man who has learned a good mechanical trade, and is truthful, honest, frugal, temperate, and industrious, is certain to succeed in life, and to become a useful and respected member of society.” Although some of the original rules have since been adapted to the times, the school remains dedicated to the values upon which it was founded.
The Foundation Deed
The following paragraphs are taken from the amended and restated Deed of Trust of Williamson College of the Trades (dated May 15, 2015), the publication initially authored by Isaiah Williamson in 1888 that established the school.
WHEREAS, The subject of the proper training and education of youth to habits of industry and economy, and the importance of their learning trades, so that they may be able to earn their living by the labor of their hands, has for a long time received my careful attention;
AND WHEREAS, I am convinced that the abandonment or disuse of the good old custom of apprenticeship to trades has resulted in many young men growing up in idleness, which leads to vice and crime and is fraught with great danger to society;
AND WHEREAS, I am impressed with the belief that in many worthy institutions founded for the free education of the young, and sometimes even in the public schools, the system and course of education, and the as-sociations and surroundings connected therewith, often unfit a young man for a life of manual labor, and induce a false belief in his mind that to labor with his hands is not respectable—and that for this reason professional and mercantile pursuits are overcrowded with incompetent candidates who meet with failure—and thus many who, if they had been differently trained in early life, could have supported themselves at some trade in comfort and decency are condemned to idleness and often to dissipation, beggary, and crime;
AND WHEREAS, For nearly thirty years I have carefully considered this subject, with the intention at the proper time of founding and endowing a free institution, to be located in the city of Philadelphia or its vicinity, where, subject to the control of proper managers and under the direction and supervision of skillful and expert instructors, poor and deserving boys could be gratuitously instructed in the rudiments of a good English education and what is of equal, if not greater, importance, trained to habits of industry and economy and taught such mechanical trades or handicrafts as may be suited to their several capacities, so that when they arrive at manhood they may be able to support themselves decently by the labor of their own hands and become useful and respectable members of society; as I am well convinced that in this country any able-bodied young man of industrious and economical habits who has learned a good mechanical trade can not only earn a good living and acquire an independence, but also become a useful and respected citizen;
AND WHEREAS, The time has now arrived at which I can put my long cherished intention into effect, and devote and dedicate to the object a sufficient fund out of means which have been saved and accumulated for the purpose;
NOW, KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, That I, Isaiah V. Williamson, of the city of Philadelphia, merchant, in order to carry out the object I so long have had in view, in the hope of supplying a long-felt want in the community, and with the intention and design of founding and endowing in perpetuity an institution to be known as the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, with its name to be changed to “Williamson College of the Trades” to be effective on or about July 1, 2015, and hereinafter designated as the “college” do hereby make, constitute, and appoint my friends John Baird, James C. Brooks, Lemuel Coffin, Edward Longstreth, William C. Ludwig, Henry C. Townsend, and John Wanamaker, all of the city of Philadelphia, and their successors in the trust appointed or created as hereinafter directed, the Trustees to hold the title to, erect, equip, maintain, direct, and manage the college… .
I declare and direct that all moneys received by the Trustees from the fiscal trustee or other sources shall be received, held, and used by the Trustees for, upon, and subject to the trusts and confidences, and for the uses and purposes hereinafter declared of and concerning the same, and for no other, that is to say: --
Out of the moneys received from the principal of the Building Fund to purchase, pay for, and take title to in the name of the Trustees, as trustees under this deed, a body of land not exceeding in the aggregate three hundred acres, situate in some suburban part of the city of Philadelphia, or in either of the counties of Bucks, Delaware, or Montgomery, in the State of Pennsylvania; to prepare said land for the purpose and to erect thereon suitable buildings, structures, erections, and appurtenances; to lodge, board, teach, and instruct as many scholars as, in the opinion of the trustees, the revenue of the Endowment Fund, and other sources of income herein authorized to be expended for the purpose, will provide for; and in addition thereto to lodge and board as many other persons, such as officers, superintendents, teachers, instructors, agents, workmen, and employ-ees, as in the opinion of the Trustees it may be necessary or convenient to lodge and board upon the premises, for the purpose of fully carrying out the design I have in view, and of completely establishing and successfully maintaining the college herein intended to be founded and endowed; and thereupon out of the said moneys to furnish and fully equip the college with such furniture, stock, materials, machinery, tools, implements, books, plant, and equipment as in the judgment of the Trustees may be necessary or convenient for the purpose….
I direct that all the principal building and erections shall be constructed of stone or brick, and made as nearly fireproof as can properly be done with the amount to be expended upon them. I leave to the judgment and discretion of the Trustees the character, number, and extent of the said building to be erected, but as the great object to be attained is to board, lodge, educate, and instruct in mechanical trades those who, when arrived at manhood, will be obliged to labor with their hands for their support, I particularly direct that all palatial structures, expensive materials, and elaborate ornamentation or decorations shall be avoided, so that the scholars may not by reason of luxurious or expensive accommodations and surroundings acquire tastes or habits which may unfit them for their trades in the sphere of life in which their lots are to be cast.
Out of the moneys received by the Trustees from the Fiscal Trustee, from the revenue or income of the Endowment Fund or other sources, to pay for the insurance, repairs, and renewals of the property, the salaries, wages, and other compensation of managers, officers, agents, teachers, instructors, workmen, or other employees, the cost of materials and supplies, the cost of boarding, lodging, teaching, and instructing the scholars, and of boarding and lodging any or all officers, agents, teachers, instructors, workmen, or other employees whom the Trustees may think it proper to board and lodge at the college, and any other charge or expense contracted or payable by or properly chargeable to the Trustees, for, upon, or by reason of the management, maintenance, support, renewal, or repair of the college and its appurtenances, and of the lands, buildings, improvements, furniture, stock, materials, machinery, tools, implements, plant, and equipment thereto belonging or appertaining. And I direct that the decision of the Trustees as to what are or may be necessary expenses for the maintenance, support, management, renewal, or repairs of the college and its appurtenances, and of the lands, buildings, improvements, furniture, stock, materials, machinery, tools, implements, plant, and equipment thereto belonging or appertaining, shall be final and conclusive upon the subject: Always provided, however, as hereinbefore directed, that no part of the principal of the Endowment Fund shall ever be used for the purpose.
I direct that the said college shall be known and designated as “Williamson College of the Trades” effective July 1, 2015 or such other date as is approved by the Trustees.
The Trustees shall employ from time to time, at proper compensation to be fixed and established by the Trustees, competent officers, teachers, instructors, agents, mechanics, workmen, and employees to take charge of the said college, and to feed, educate, and instruct in trades as hereinafter provided all who may be admitted as scholars to the college.
When the college is prepared to receive scholars, the Trustees shall from time to time receive and admit to the college as scholars as many young male persons of good moral character, of such ages between sixteen and twenty years, as may from time to time be determined by the Trustees, as, in the opinion of the Trustees, the extent, capacity and income of the college will provide for. Applicants shall be able to meet the physical demands of the college’s curriculum, which focuses on developing both a strong mind and body for work in the trades. The requirements for admission to the college shall, in all respects, comply with applicable law. Preference shall be given, in the admission of scholars: First, to those residing in the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania; second, to those residing elsewhere in Pennsylvania; third, to those residing in the States of Delaware, Maryland, or New Jersey; fourth, to those residing elsewhere in the United States. And in all cases, other things being equal in the order of preference, the preference shall always be given to the poor. But I especially direct that no scholar who has been properly admitted with reference to the order of preference, shall thereafter be displaced to make way for any later or subsequent applicant who may be higher in the order of preference hereinabove directed to be observed. And the decision of the Trustees as to the number of scholars to be admitted, and as to the conflicting claims of any or all rival candidates for admission, shall be final and conclusive upon all parties. All scholars shall be citizens of the United States or lawful resident aliens. All scholars admitted to the college shall receive scholarships for such respective periods as the Trustees may from time to time determine; Provided, that no scholarship shall be for less than three years nor extend beyond the scholar’s twenty-third birthday.
All scholars admitted to the college shall be fed with good, wholesome food and decently and fitly housed and lodged. They shall also, if in the opinion of the Trustees they have not been sufficiently educated before their admission, be thoroughly instructed and grounded in the rudiments of a good common-school English education, embracing spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, history, particularly of the United States, and also such of the natural and physical sciences and lower mathematics as in the opinion of the Trustees it may be important for them to acquire, to fit themselves for the trades they are to learn.
In describing this course of English education I do not intend to make it obligatory that all the branches I have named shall be taught, or that those not named shall be excluded, nor do I intend that any one fixed or established course shall be taken by all the scholars, I leave all this to the discretion of the Trustees, but I request that they shall at all times bear in mind the fact that the main object I have in view is to train young men to mechanical trades, so that they may earn their own living, and that while the acquisition of any branches of an English education which may be of aid to them in their several trades is necessary and important, any higher or advanced knowledge which might render them dissatisfied with or unfit for their employments is unnecessary and may be disadvantageous. I expressly direct that each and every scholar shall be compelled to learn and be thoroughly instructed in one good mechanical trade, so that when they leave the college they may be able to support themselves by the labor of their own hands. I leave to the discretion of the Trustees the selection of the several kinds of mechanical trades to be taught, and the determination of the particular one that shall be taught to and acquired by each scholar, but I particularly desire that the taste, capacity, intelligence, and adaptability of each scholar be ascertained and considered before assigning him to any particular trade. Among the trades which may be taught are those of baker, blacksmith, bricklayer, butcher, cabinetmaker, car builder, carpenter, carriage maker, coppersmith, the crafts of constructing, managing, and repairing electrical appliances and apparatus, foundryman, gasfitter, gold-beater, harnessmaker, hatter, locksmith, machinist, marble mason, moulder, painter, paperhanger, patternmaker, plasterer, plumber, printer, saddler, shoemaker, steam engineer, slater, stonecutter, stonemason, tailor, tiler, tinsmith, turner, wheelwright, and many others. In mentioning these several trades, I do not intend to make it obligatory upon the Trustees to teach all of them, nor do I intend to exclude any of those which are not mentioned, and I authorize the Trustees to the extent that the cultivation, care, and adornment of the lands and grounds connected with the college will admit, to instruct such of the scholars as show taste and capacity for the occupation, in the art of farming and gardening, or either.
I desire and direct that the moral and religious training of the scholars shall be properly looked after and cared for by the Trustees, but that there shall be no attempt by the Trustees at proselytism among the scholars, and no favoritism shown by the Trustees to any particular sect or creed. I especially direct that each scholar shall be taught to speak the truth at all times, and I particularly direct and charge as an imperative duty upon the Trustees that each and every scholar shall be thoroughly trained to habits of frugality, economy, and industry, as above all others the one great lesson which I desire to have impressed upon every scholar and inmate of the school is that in this country every able bodied, healthy young man who has learned a good mechanical trade, and is truthful, honest, frugal, temperate, and industrious, is certain to succeed in life, and to become a useful and respected member of society.
I desire and direct that the physical training of the scholars shall be carefully attended to, that they shall have proper exercise and recreation, so that so far as such a result can be brought about by training and care, each one may grow up with a sound mind in a sound body.
I direct that the boarding, lodging, education, instruction in trades, and all other advantages to be derived by the scholars under this deed, shall be gratuitous, in the manner and to the extent hereinafter provided and with such limitations or exceptions as the Trustees may approve. The Trustees are directed to meet this commitment by providing scholarships to such scholars and/or benefits to such scholars, using earnings from its endowment funds, cost savings resulting from its student work program, accepting gifts, student aid grants, student fees and charges, and other sources of revenue to offset the scholars’ cost of education. The amount, terms and requirements of the scholarships and/or benefits and services and the fees and charges which may be imposed may vary depending upon a scholar’s demonstrated financial need, legal or tax requirements, or other factors and shall be determined in accordance with guidelines approved by the Trustees. The college shall provide athletic uniforms to scholars participating in the college’s athletic programs and provide other clothing to scholars who have a demonstrated financial need. In order to obtain additional resources, the college is authorized to participate in grant or student aid programs of federal, state, or local governmental agencies and other organizations or entities, public or private, and to make such adjustments in its educational programs or other policies that the Trustees may deem advisable in order to permit, facilitate or expand such funding. In particular, but without limitation, the college may impose fees and charges such as entrance fees, refundable deposits, annual fees, technology access fees, shop fees, student activity fees, parking fees, charges for books, supplies or equipment or other fees and charges, require payment of health insurance premiums or other costs, and may collect dues or contributions from scholars when duly authorized by a recognized student council, student association, student club or class. The college may, in its discretion, reduce or eliminate all or any part of such fees, charges or other costs, based on a scholar’s demonstrated financial need, the college ‘s available resources or other factors.
If, in the opinion of the Trustees, any scholar should become incompetent to learn or master a trade, or become intractable or insubordinate, or be guilty of vice or crime, he may be expelled from the college by the Trustees, and I direct that all scholarships and other documents shall be so drawn as to permit this to be done. I particularly direct that the decision of the Trustees as to whether a scholar deserves expulsion under this article G shall be final and conclusive upon the subject. And I further direct that the Trustees may cancel the scholarship of any scholar upon withdrawal from the college or for any other reason which, in the judgment of the Trustees, is good and sufficient… .
The College
The 220-acre campus, located in Middletown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, was purchased in 1889. Frank Furness, one of the most prominent architects of the day, was employed to design the buildings. The school opened in 1891 and it offered three-year programs in bricklaying, carpentry, machine shop, and patternmaking. With the first graduation in 1894, the school became a significant pioneer in America’s vocational education movement.
In 1957, when a fire destroyed all but one of the shop buildings, it looked like Williamson might be forced to close, but the college was saved when the Board of Trustees entered into agreement with the Trustees of the Rodman Wanamaker estate, creating the John Wanamaker Free School of Artisans, now an integral part of Williamson. The agreement funded the construction of four new shop buildings and a general education building and provided an endowment that covered an increase in the number of scholarships offered.
Until 1961, students were of high school age and the school’s curriculum emphasized the trades. However, due to the rise of secondary education and the significant advances of technology, the Williamson Board of Trustees decided to convert the school to a postsecondary institution. Programs were upgraded and in 1972 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted the school the authority to award the Associate in Specialized Technology Degree. Williamson now offers Associate in Specialized Technology degrees in Construction Technology (with an emphasis on carpentry, electrical, or masonry); Landscape Construction and Management; Machine Tool Technology; and Power Plant Technology.
As of July 1, 2015, Williamson formally changed its name to Williamson College of the Trades, a name that more clearly articulates the college’s identity and educational focus to those outside the Williamson community while remaining faithful to the college’s mission and maintaining a close connection with the past. Begun in the 19th century, Williamson still provides a quality trade and technical education, at no cost for tuition or room and board, to deserving young men and continues to upgrade its programs to meet the current challenges of advancing technology.