Class Acts: Three Schools Named for Stephen T. Mather

In an earlier blog we looked at various locations in the National Parks that had been named in honor of the Park Services’ first director.  His name has also been given to at least three schools.

The Oldest

Stephen Tyng Mather High School, Chicago IL.  The home of The Rangers, Mather High School was dedicated in 1959 and today remains a vibrant part of the Chicago Public School system.   From the school’s website: “With students representing over 140 nations and speaking more than 60 home languages, Mather is one of the most diverse high schools in Chicago. This diversity enriches learning and prepares every student to thrive in a connected world.”  At the school’s dedication, Stephen McPherson, Stephen Mather’s grandson, delivered a welcoming speech,

a copy of which is in the Mather archives. 

The Newest

Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship High School, New York, NY.  The school was founded in 2013 in partnership with the National Park Service.  From the School’s website: “Through our unique partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), and myriad others, we are able to offer real, hands-on education in the building and landscaping trades, with an emphasis on high-quality craftsmanship and the specialized building arts while also providing you with a solid college- and career-ready foundation integrated with the trades and aligned with the Common Core Standards.”

The Gone—but Not Forgotten.

Mather Junior High School, Darien CT. Situated in the building that is now the Darien Town Hall, from 1960 to 1983, Mather was Darien’s second junior high.  The closing ceremony took place on June 12, 1983. 

A program from the closing is in the Homestead Archives.  In December 1983, the Mather plaque was transferred from the junior high to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.