In 1676, thirty eight residents of Jamaica Plain donated corn and land to support a school. Its name came from the Reverend John Eliot, "minister to the Indians," who bequeathed 75 acres of land with the goal of "removing the inconvenience of ignorance." Renting out the land provided funds for a free education for the area's children -- colonial, African, and Indian. The school occupied several buildings until, with funds from the sale of land, it erected its current home in 1831.
The Eliot School played an integral part in the development of the public school system until 1874, when West Roxbury joined the City of Boston. It then began to offer manual training, aligning itself with the Arts and Crafts Movement then gaining momentum worldwide as a response to the dehumanizing effects of industrialization. By 1905 the Trustees stated the purpose of the School: ".to satisfy that instinctive desire of human beings to create."
Today The Eliot School offers classes in fine and applied arts to adults and children. The heart of the School remains its woodworking shop where master craftsmen teach furniture design, construction, finishing, and upholstery. Drawing, painting, sewing, and other crafts are also taught by Boston's master artisans and artists. John Eliot's inclusive vision still guides the School. It remains a vital resource in our ethnically and culturally diverse community as an oasis free of homework, exams, and software upgrade creep. We invite you to get your hands dirty in a welcoming environment known for hands-on skills and creative expression.
Trustees
- Charles Fox, Co-Chair
- Marilyn Mase, Co-Chair
- Bob Cunha, Treasurer
- Laura Peabody, Secretary
- David Friedman
- Curdina Hill
- Carolyn Ingles
- Terry Murray
Staff
- Abigail Norman, Director
- Jean O'Leary, Assistant
- Charles Sandler, Superintendent
- Elizabeth Hastie, Office Assistant