Slater Fund

Historical Context

Following the Civil War, the 17 defeated southern states that practiced enslavement were unable to properly fund public education and unwilling to fund African American education. Newly emergent northern corporate philanthropies committed finances to this end.

Millionaire textile manufacturer, commodities trader and financier George Peabody advanced industrial philanthropy in the mid 19th century. Jointly residing in the United States and England, Peabody's earliest “gift giving” was directed to housing paupers in London. In 1867 he established the Peabody Educational Fund to assist educating the poor in the southern states. The Peabody Fund articulated a rationale, provided a model and trained leaders for educational philanthropy.

An advocate of industrial training for African American people, John Fox Slater of Norwich, Connecticut established his philanthropic foundation in 1882. Inspired by the Peabody model, the agency was chartered in the state of New York with an initial gift of $1 million. Unlike Peabody and other education foundations, Slater money was aimed at African Americans exclusively.

Powerful political and educational leaders were chosen to lead the effort. Former President Rutherford B. Hayes chaired the initial governing body. Early trustees included Morris K. Jessup, a New York banker and benefactor to George Washington Carver; Daniel Coit Gilman, well-known educator and former president of Johns Hopkins University; William Slater, John's son; Atticus G. Haygood, a Methodist minister and president of Emory University; Wallace Buttrick, a minister active in the charity movement; and Dr. James H. Dillard, an educator and college president.

Implementation

The Slater Fund's first two general agents, Atticus G. Haygood, who served from 1882 to 1891, and J. L. M. Curry, 1891–1903, greatly influenced the racial views, political philosophy, and activities of the organization. The third general agent, Wallace Buttrick, 1902–1910, maintained Curry's policies. The fourth general agent, James H. Dillard, 1910–1940, shifted the focus of the fund.

Haygood was a strong advocate of industrial training for African Americans. He believed African American men should be trained in farming, black-smithing, tanning, carpentry, and brick masonry. Like other architects of African American education, he supported a curriculum for moral uplift. For Haygood, Bible study should be at the heart of character building. During the Haygood years $322,000 was gifted. Of that amount, more than 90% went to private institutions with the remainder going to public schools.

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