Gonzaga College High School, an institution synonymous with Jesuit education in Washington D.C., holds a history far deeper than its esteemed academic reputation. While many might ask, “Where Is Gonzaga College located?” in a purely geographical sense, a more profound question was posed in 2016: Did Gonzaga College have connections to slavery? This inquiry sparked a journey of discovery, revealing a complex and often overlooked chapter in the school’s past.
In November 2016, Adam Rothman, a history professor from Georgetown University and the principal curator of the Georgetown Slavery Archive, visited Gonzaga College. During his presentation, a student’s question about historical links between Gonzaga and slavery initiated an extraordinary research project. Professor Rothman, acknowledging his lack of immediate knowledge, challenged the students themselves to delve into the archives at Georgetown University’s Booth Family Center for Special Collections to find the answer.
During the summer of 2017, a dedicated group of Gonzaga students took up this challenge. Venturing into the Georgetown archives, they meticulously examined centuries-old accounting books and ledgers. Their perseverance paid off. These student researchers unearthed undeniable evidence confirming Gonzaga College High School’s direct ties to slavery, fundamentally changing the understanding of the institution’s origins.
Black and white photo of Gonzaga College High Schools original building in 1821.
Revealing Financial Links to Slavery
The initial breakthrough in the student research came with the discovery of crucial financial documents. These records meticulously detailed how profits generated from Jesuit-owned slave plantations in the region were directly funneled into the establishment and construction of the Washington Seminary. This seminary, the precursor to today’s Gonzaga College High School, clearly benefited from the abhorrent practice of slavery from its very inception. One particularly telling document highlighted income sourced from these Jesuit plantations, juxtaposed with an expenditure line item: “Payment of debt on purchase of ground on which Washington Seminary is built.” This stark financial connection unequivocally demonstrated the reliance of Gonzaga’s foundational institution on the profits of slave labor.
Further investigation of these historical records revealed another disturbing link. Food supplies originating from plantations that relied on enslaved labor were directly delivered to The Washington Seminary. Inventory lists meticulously documented the foodstuffs, including bacon, chickens, beef, potatoes, and turnips, regularly supplied to the school. This evidence painted a clear picture of how deeply interwoven the institution was with the economic system of slavery.
A student looks through a historical ledger in the Georgetown University archives.
The Enslaved Individuals at the School
Perhaps the most impactful and emotionally resonant aspect of the research was the discovery of enslaved individuals who labored directly at the school. The students painstakingly pieced together fragments of information to identify five individuals: Isaiah, Gabriel, Mary, Sophy, and Ned. Moving beyond mere academic inquiry, the researchers dedicated themselves to respectfully sharing the stories of these individuals. The narrative of Gabriel, a young boy of approximately 13 years old when first recorded at the Washington Seminary in April 1822, emerged as particularly poignant. A brief entry in an accounting book noted, “To Gabriel, for weeding in the garden in time of recreation,” accompanied by a payment of a mere 6 cents. Through collaboration with historians and archivists across the nation, the students were able to reconstruct a more complete, albeit tragic, narrative of Gabriel’s life, a story that became a central and powerful element of their subsequent exhibit.
Confronting History: The Exhibit and Community Dialogue
Accounting ledger with notes about cash expenses. One reads:
Acknowledging and confronting these historical truths has been a profound and challenging process for the Gonzaga community. To facilitate understanding and reflection, Gonzaga College High School launched the exhibit Searching for Truth in the Garden: Gonzaga’s History with Slavery on campus in April 2019. This exhibit ensured that every student had the opportunity to learn about the complex and often uncomfortable realities of their school’s founding. Facilitated small group discussions led by teachers provided a platform for students to process their emotions and engage with this challenging history. Furthermore, a descendant of individuals enslaved and sold by Georgetown University in 1838 addressed the students, fostering deeper understanding and connection. A collection of student and faculty poetry, titled Garden: Gonzaga Poets Respond to the Slavery Research Project, was also published, offering creative and emotional responses to the research. Selected poems from this collection were incorporated into the exhibit as it moved to Ford’s Theatre.
Several blue museum display panels line the walls of the Center for Education and Leadership.
Exhibit at Ford’s Theatre: Bringing History to a Wider Audience
Searching for Truth in the Garden: Gonzaga College High School’s History with Slavery extended its reach beyond the school campus, being displayed at the Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street NW). Ford’s Theatre, located near Gonzaga’s original site on F Street NW during the Civil War era, provided a historically resonant setting for the exhibit. This presentation allowed a broader public to engage with the students’ important research and learn about Gonzaga College’s complex history within the larger context of Washington D.C.’s past.
Blue presentation panels line the walls of the Center for Education and Leadership. On the panels is information researched by Gonzaga College High School about their institution
The exhibit stands as a powerful testament to the dedication and capabilities of students when empowered to explore challenging historical questions. Initiated by a simple question – “where is Gonzaga College… in relation to slavery?” – this project underscores the profound impact of student-led research and its capacity to illuminate crucial, often hidden, aspects of institutional history. The hope is that this exhibit serves as both an informative experience and a catalyst for continued reflection and dialogue.
For those interested in delving deeper into the Slavery Research Project, further information is available at: https://www.gonzaga.org/about/history/slavery-research-project.
