October 24, 2018
Andover dedicates the Richard T. Greener Quadrangle
Campaign gift honors a trailblazing alumnus and enduring valuesIn the early fall sunshine, the Academy gathered as one to celebrate the legacy of Richard T. Greener, Class of 1865, for whom the “Great Quad” will be forever named.
Greener was an active and notable voice for the rights of black Americans in the Reconstruction period, serving as both dean of Howard University Law School and associate editor of Frederick Douglass’s newspaper, New National Era. He also held a key U.S. diplomatic post in Vladivostok, Russia, during the Russo-Japanese War.
Richard Theodore Greener in 1865 as a 20-year old senior at Phillips Academy
A deeply loyal alumnus, Greener referred to his time at Andover as “my awakening.” During the ceremony on September 29, Head of School John G. Palfrey P’21 emphasized, “The qualities he displayed as a student were instrumental years later as he navigated civil rights and international conflicts. These are the kinds of qualities we see in our students today—rigor and purpose in their work, shared values of knowledge and goodness, respect for differences.”
The dedication was made possible by an anonymous Knowledge & Goodness campaign donor who wished to recognize Greener’s significant contributions to his alma mater and the era’s discourse on issues of equality and justice.
An additional campaign gift will establish an endowed fund to advance equity and inclusion initiatives in Greener’s name. This new fund will present an opportunity for other alumni, parents, and friends to collectively invest in such vital program-ming. The school first recognized Greener in 1989 by creating a scholarship in his memory. On the occasion of the quadrangle ceremony, Andover’s anonymous donor reaffirmed the school’s vision with these words, “We honor one man to represent all those who have enriched the Academy through the diversity of their thought and backgrounds and those who, for generations to come, will help Andover live up to its ideal of youth from every quarter.”
Categories: Philanthropy
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