PEA Investigates Ties to Slavery

To date, the Academy has not investigated its historical ties to slavery, including founder John Phillips’ ownership of two enslaved persons.On Feb. 1, Principal Bill Rawson sent an email to the student body announcing his appointment of History Instructor Cameron Brickhouse, Head of Archives and Special Collections Magee Lawhorn and History Department Chair Kent McConnell to a steering committee on how to conduct such an investigation. Advised by Director of Equity and Inclusion Stephanie Bramlett and trustee Claudine Gay ’88, the three committee members will propose recommendations to the administration.“While the initial focus will be on connections between our school and the institution of slavery, the steering committee is encouraged to think broadly and develop recommendations for such other studies as the committee believes should be undertaken to understand the history and legacy of our school,” Rawson wrote.Rawson noted his desire for student involvement. “The intent is to have an inclusive process that will engage the entire community,” he wrote. “Everyone who has an interest is invited to share ideas with the steering committee.”While the steering committee’s recommendations will inform the first in-depth examination, other published works have touched on the topic of slavery. In “The Phillips Exeter: A History,” Laurence M. Crosbie’s wrote an account of Phillips’ slaves.The steering committee will primarily focus on the logistical side of the initiative. “Normally, steering committees aren't the ones that actually do something about initiatives,” Lawhorn said. “They're just there to plan and think what could possibly be some of the outcomes and some of the committees or task forces that sort of run some of these programs, whether it’s coursework [or] fundraising.”McConnell explained that the importance of addressing the Academy’s history of slavery. “To recount the story of people who were intentionally excluded from the written past is a formidable methodological task requiring persistence in research, the ability to put together fragments of the historical record into a larger powerful narrative and triangulating primary sources in ways that give voice to the voiceless,” he said.This reexamination of Exeter’s history works is part of a larger movement in major educational institutions. “I think the Principal is pretty clear, which is to try to follow in the footsteps of other prestigious institutions… and to sort of reevaluate their connection to slavery or just their connection to peoples that were treated,” Lawhorn said.McConnell was first contacted about the project by David Weber, a former instructor at the Academy who works with many local organizations regarding issues of social justice. “[He] asked me to consider working with him and others on exploring the issue of John Phillips connection to slavery,” McConnell said. “Shortly thereafter, Principal Rawson contacted me about my interest in pursuing such a history. During the winter term, I met with Principal Rawson again to formalize a small committee that will head the project.”Lawhorn noted the ongoing nature of the endeavor. “It's sort of like co-education, right? It always comes back. But it's something that we're always integrating into our courses.”Principally, the steering committee will reach out to sources outside of the school’s archives for their research. “Because this touches upon Exeter and New Hampshire, [we will] probably [go to] historical societies as well,” Lawhorn said. “I wouldn’t limit us to just using the archives. It's going to be something where we're gonna have to reach out to other sources.”Lawhorn stressed that the opportunities for student involvement are varied. “That can be [a] classes or someone’s senior project,” Lawhorn said. “[The initiative] can play out in a number of ways.”Members of the Exeter community raised questions about the timing of the investigation. “I definitely think it’s a good thing, but I think they should have done something like this by now,” lower Tommy Seidel said. “The email was a little vague, and there was no definitive action stated [in the email].”Prep Priya Nwakanma shared similar sentiments. “I think it should have been done years ago, probably, but I’m never going to say it’s a bad thing to be doing it now,” she said. “Like at least they’re trying at this point.”Additionally, students hoped that the research would focus on the stories of slavery. “It’s good to get research on how the school played a role [in slavery],” lower Diwura Adesanya said. “Then, they can repair the damages. [But] you also never really hear [other kinds] of stories, how [slaves] were affected by it. It’s mostly about the slave owners and what they did, so maybe trying to find the perspectives of the slaves in there, too.Upper Nahla Owens noted that the value of the search will be rooted in the action taken after the history is outlined. “I think it'd be an interesting conversation to have,” she said. “To see to what extent are we able to kind of not necessarily undo what was done in the past but repair some of the damage that has been done.”Additionally, some students believe that the research should focus more on the stories of slaves related to the Academy. “It’s good to get research on how the school played a role [in slavery],” said lower Diwura Adesanya. “Then they can repair the damages. [But] you also never really hear [other kinds] of stories, how [slaves] were affected by it. It’s mostly about the slave owners and what they did, so maybe trying to find the perspectives of the slaves in there, too.History Instructor Aykut Kilinc looked forward to an informed discussion. “What would we do if in fact the origins of this institution relied on slave labor or if somehow slavery is part of this institution?” he said. “I think we should let the documents talk.”Others hope that this initiative will lead to more education about slavery, specifically slavery in Exeter. “I think really the reason why it's important to understand slavery is not only to acknowledge it for the people who suffered in the past but to move forward and make a better future,” Owens said. “[We should] acknowledge the ways that this system has carried over into the future and the ways that it still impacts us today. So I feel like people should have a more rounded understanding of the impacts of implications of slavery today.”Seidel hoped that education would follow this investigation. “[I think they should] educate people more on this topic instead of just saying that they’re going to look into it… People know that there is history in Exeter that is not good, but maybe they don’t know enough.”The research completed will explore a largely unacknowledged issue in the Academy’s history. “I think previously the Academy just assumed that it didn’t have slaves,” Lawhorn said. “When we read history, we’re always assuming that people who do certain good things wouldn’t have done some of these negative things as well. We’ve been making a lot of assumptions, and that’s what we need to address.”