Benton Grammar School

The Benton Grammar School (later renamed the "D.A. Holmes School") was a K–8 public school in Kansas City, Missouri.[1][2] Originally opened in 1868 as a whites-only school, the school was converted to an all-black school in 1953.[1][3] The school is perhaps best known as the alma mater of American animator and producer Walt Disney, who attended the school from 1910 to 1917.[4][5]

Benton Grammar School
LocationKansas City, Missouri
Built1868 (original site)
1904 (new site)
ArchitectCharles Ashley Smith
Architectural styleRenaissance Revival
NRHP reference No.86001204
Added to NRHP1986

History

The first Benton Grammar School building was built in 1868 and named in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, who represented Missouri in the United States Senate from 1821 to 1851. The original site of the school was at the corner of Liberty and 14th streets in Kansas City.[6] The school was originally a whites-only school.[3]

In 1904, a new three-story school building was constructed with yellow brick and had 12 classrooms and a kindergarten room. The building was Renaissance Revival architecture and was located at Benton Boulevard in Kansas City, and was formally opened on September 12, 1904. The school enrolled students from kindergarten/pre-K (age 5–6) to 8th grade (up to age 14). In 1921, 8 additional classrooms were added to the school due to an increase in enrollment. By that year, there were approximately 1,300 students enrolled in the school.

During the period of school segregation in the United States, the Kansas City School District converted the school to a Black school in the early 1950s.[7][8] The move was strongly opposed by White families in the area, and over 500 white families protested the change.[9] During this period, an arsonist set fire to the school, likely due to the conversion of the school to serve African American students.[1]

In 1953, the school was renamed and dedicated as the D.A. Holmes School in honor of the Reverend D.A. Holmes, a local African American Baptist minister and civil rights leader in Kansas City.[10][7][9]

In 1986, the school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Santa Fe Place Historic District.[11][1]

The school closed in June 1997 and the building was later converted to the D.A. Holmes Senior Apartments, operated by Fairway Management, Inc.[12][13]

Walt Disney

The Benton School is perhaps best known as the alma mater of American animator and producer Walt Disney, who attended the school from 1910 to 1917.[4][5] The 1931 edition of "The Bentonion" school yearbook includes a six-paragraph tribute letter written to the school from Disney. Disney credited the Benton School and his favorite teacher, Daisy Beck, for fostering his creativity and love for cartoons and storytelling.[14][15][16][17]

In 1938, Disney invited the entire student body of the school to see a screening of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for free.[18] In 1942, Disney returned to the Benton School for a reunion, and a dedication of a new Works Progress Administration mural in the school's hallways to commemorate Disney's education and upbringing in Kansas City.[19] The voice of Donald Duck, Clarence Nash, also accompanied Disney for the festivities.[20]

Notable alumni

References
  1. Jackson-Evans, Priscilla (1985-05-22). "National Register of Historic Place - Nomination" (PDF). United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  2. Annual Report of the Board of Directors of the St. Louis Public Schools. Plate, Olshausen & Company. 1859.
  3. "D. A. Holmes School". African American Heritage Trail of Kansas City. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  4. Moneymaker, Will (2022-12-22). "The Early Life of Walt Disney: His Childhood". Postcard Inspirations. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  5. Krasniewicz, Louise (2010). Walt Disney: A Biography. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-35830-2.
  6. Fisk, Benjamin Franklin (1861). A Grammar of the Greek Language. R.S. Davis & Company.
  7. Colby, Tanner (2013-07-30). Some of My Best Friends Are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-312363-7.
  8. Dunn, Joshua M. (2012-09-01). Complex Justice: The Case of Missouri v. Jenkins. UNC Press Books. ISBN 978-1-4696-0660-6.
  9. Jet Magazine. Johnson Publishing Company. 1953-10-08.
  10. "D. A. Holmes, Minister, and Activist born". African American Registry. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  11. "Santa Fe Place History". Santa Fe Place. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  12. Dennis, Clarence (2021-08-02). "curiousKC | Who was D.A. Holmes and Why Was a School Named After Him?". Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  13. "DA Holmes I – FWM | Fairway Management, Inc". Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  14. "Walt Disney Grammar School Reunion". www.phil-sears.com. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  15. "Walt Disney's favorite teacher was DSU alumna". Dakota State University. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  16. "Walt's Favorite Teacher: Daisy Beck". www.mouseplanet.com. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  17. Johnson, Brad (2018-09-17). Putting Teachers First: How to Inspire, Motivate, and Connect with Your Staff. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-99697-9.
  18. Williams, Pat; Denney, Jim (2010-01-01). How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7573-9446-1.
  19. "Benton Grammar School (former): Walt Disney Murals - Kansas City MO". Living New Deal. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  20. Dennis, Clarence (2021-05-17). "curiousKC | The Mystery of KC's Missing Walt Disney Murals". Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  21. Thomas, Bob (2017-12-05). Walt Disney: An American Original. Disney Electronic Content. ISBN 978-1-368-02718-2.
  22. Burnes, Brian; Viets, Dan; Butler, Robert W. (2002). Walt Disney's Missouri: The Roots of a Creative Genius. Kansas City Star Books. ISBN 978-0-9717080-6-8.
  23. Panton, Kenneth J. (2022-08-23). Historical Dictionary of the United States. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-2420-8.
  24. "Ginger Rogers: She adds a new chapter to her success story". reelclassics.com. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
  25. "La'verne E. Washington - National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc". 2020-09-24. Retrieved 2023-01-17.
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