Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Campaign

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

The Campaign to Create the Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park was inspired by two events -- the addition in 2002 of the Rosenwald Schools to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of most endangered historic places in America, and the release in 2015 of the documentary film “Rosenwald,” by filmmaker Aviva Kempner.

Inspired by the film, representatives of the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Trust met in 2016 to explore a way to honor the legacy of Julius Rosenwald and preserve the Rosenwald Schools. Other highly dedicated volunteers soon joined in to establish the Rosenwald Park Campaign, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Campaign envisions a multi-site National Historical Park comprising a state-of-the-art visitor center in Chicago that would interpret Rosenwald’s overall legacy and a small number of Rosenwald Schools throughout the south complemented by a network of Rosenwald Schools associated with the Park but not included in it.

The Campaign’s first activity was to solicit recommendations of Rosenwald Schools for possible inclusion in the Park from the State Historic Preservation Officers in the 15 states in which they were built; 55 Schools and one teacher home were recommended. Campaign representatives visited 33 of the Schools and the teacher home and issued a report on the school facilities in 2021.

The Campaign has prepared four additional reports. All five are available on the Campaign website at https://www.rosenwaldpark.org/documents.

The Campaign has received letters of support for creating the National Historical Park from over 200 nonprofit organizations representing a robust and diverse range of constituencies, both national and local.

In June 2019 Senator Richard Durbin and Congressman Danny Davis, both of Illinois, jointly introduced The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools Study Act, directing the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a special resource study (SRS) of the sites associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools. It quickly developed bipartisan support. In December 2020 the final bill passed overwhelmingly in both Houses of Congress and was signed into law (Public Law 116–336) on January 13, 2021, by President Trump.

The NPS commenced the SRS in April 2022 and received more than 2,000 comments during its public comment period that July. The final report was submitted to Congress on June 13, 2024. It concluded that Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools are of national historic significance and recommended that the San Domingo Rosenwald School in Maryland be considered by Congress to become a National Historic Site and that a network of Rosenwald Schools with grant making authority be established. The study also recommended several alternatives for a future visitor center in Chicago. This was a significant step forward.

In September 2024 legislation was introduced in both Houses of Congress to establish the National Historical Park. However, it was too late in the session for either bill to have a hearing, and the legislation was not passed. The Campaign is working to have new legislation introduced in both Houses of Congress in 2025 with the goal of having it passed before the current session of Congress ends in December 2026.

In February 2024 the Campaign leased office space in the Nichols Tower in the North Lawndale section of Chicago. The tower is all that remains of the very large Sears, Roebuck merchandising facility built in 1905-06. This historic space gives the Campaign a presence in Chicago and a place to meet community leaders.

Guiding the Campaign is its highly accomplished and diverse Board of Directors, with support from its Advisory Council. Over 2,000 supporters receive the bimonthly newsletter.

For more information on how you can contribute to the Campaign and receive all the latest updates on our efforts, click here.

PRIVACY POLICY

April 28, 2025