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Striving for Civil Liberties: The Progressives of Mount Vernon
Baltimore's wealthy not only created the rich architectural setting of Mount Vernon Place, but pioneered modern philanthropy. With the founding of the George Peabody Institute in 1857, George Peabody influenced many other wealthy Baltimoreans including Johns Hopkins. On one such occasion, John Work Garrett hosted a dinner party for Johns Hopkins and George Peabody where according to Garrett, Peabody told Johns Hopkins, "For the first time, (I) felt there was a higher pleasure and greater happiness than accumulating money, that was derived from giving it for good and humane purposes…" After this memorable dinner, it is said Johns Hopkins established in his will the creation of the university, medical school, and hospital. By 1893, Baltimore had more millionaire philanthropists than any other city in the country.
Mount Vernon residents also led the fight for Women's Rights. In 1890, Mary Garrett (daughter of John Work Garrett), M. Carey Thomas, Elizabeth King, and Mary Gwinn, among others, formed the Women's Fund Committee that, with a large donation, forced Hopkins Medical School to admit women on an equal basis with men. In 1906, the National American Women Suffrage Association met in Baltimore; Susan B. Anthony was a guest of Mary Garrett at 101 West Monument Street.
This strain of progressivism survives today at the Baltimore School for the Arts. As one of the top public arts high schools in the country, the school provides training in dance, visual arts, music and theater. Founded in 1979, it occupies two historic buildings-the Alcazar Hotel, the former headquarters of the Knight of Columbus and 704 Cathedral Street, the 1850s-era home of George Brown, second chairman of Alexander Brown and Sons. |