Delaware Literary Institute
{{Short description|Former secondary school in Franklin, New York, US (1835–1902)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Delaware Literary Institute
| image = Delaware Literary Institute.png
| alt =
| caption = 1899 advertisement in The Brooklyn Eagle
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| location = Franklin, New York
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|42|20|21|N|75|10|4.5|W|type:edu_region:US-NY|display=title}}
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| established = {{start date|1835}}
| founder =
| closed = {{end date|1902}}
| authority =
| principal = Col. Elmer E. French
| head =
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| grades =
| gender = Co-educational
| age_range =
| enrollment = 83 (1836)
409 (1852)
225 (1870s)
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}}
The Delaware Literary Institute was a secondary school located at Franklin, New York. In the mid-19th century it was one of the most prominent educational institutions in New York State. It operated from 1835 to 1902.
History
The Delaware Literary Institute was chartered in 1835 as a "literary institution for the instruction and education of youth of both sexes," with a primary aim of educating ministers and missionary teachers. The first building opened in 1836 (Old Stone Hall) and enrollment was 45 male and 38 female students. In 1852, the student body stood at 409. In 1852, a large three story structure known as Ladies Boarding Hall was constructed. In 1855–1856, Chapel Hall was built and the New Stone Hall constructed to replace the Old Stone Hall that was destroyed by fire.{{cite web|url=http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=1679|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: New Stone Hall|date=February 1980|accessdate=2010-02-06 |author=Lucy Breyer|publisher=New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation}}
Enrollment declined after the American Civil War and remained at about 225 through the next 30 years. Enrollment dropped in the 1890s due to competition from public schools. In 1902, Delaware Literary Institute succumbed to public and financial pressures and leased its buildings for use as a Union Free School. Chapel Hall and the New Stone Hall are the only remaining structures. Chapel Hall is used by the Franklin Stage Company, a professional theater founded in 1996, operating on an Actors Equity Association Small Professional Theater Tier IV contract.
Prominent graduates
- Arthur C. Butts{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/whowaswhoinameri04peri/page/143/mode/1up?view=theater |title=Who Was Who in America |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |year=1968 |volume=IV |location=Chicago, I.L. |pages=143 |language=en |via=Internet Archive}}
- Charles M. Preston{{Cite journal|date=1 June 1890|editor-last=Paton|editor-first=Thomas B.|title=Charles M. Preston|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QbpFAQAAMAAJ|journal=The Banking Law Journal|location=New York, N.Y.|volume=3|issue=2|page=36|via=Google Books}}
- Charles W. Gillet
- Samuel F. Miller (US politician)
- Charles J. Knapp
- Ferris Jacobs, Jr.
- William H. Steele{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OiufUDG-zboC|title=The Convention Manual of Procedure, Forms and Rules for the Regulation of Business in the Sixth New York State Constitutional Convention, 1894: Delegates Manual and Introduction|publisher=The Argus Company|year=1894|location=Albany, N.Y.|pages=X|via=Google Books}}
- Washington Irving Warrey
- N. B. Willey{{cite web|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_idaho/col2-content/main-content-list/title_willey_norman.html |title= Idaho Governor Norman Bushnell Willey |publisher= National Governors Association |accessdate= September 14, 2012}}