Logan Square in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Friends Select School
1833
— Parkway Museums District —
Friends Select School provides a strong, academic education to elementary and secondary school-aged children. Overseen by two Meetings of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the school traces its roots to the founding of the nation’s first Friends school in 1689. It has existed as Friends Select since 1833, and at this location since 1885.
The word “select” in the name dates back to 1827, when Orthodox Quakers in Philadelphia created schools that would “select” and educate only Quaker children. Friends Select abandoned this practice in the 1870s, and today welcomes children without regard to religion, nationality or ethnicity.
[Captions:]
Friends Select School, seen from the corner of 17th Street and the Parkway, before 1967.
The Class of 0901 shows the school's longstanding tradition of coeducation.
Friends Select opened here in 1885, the year before an artist painted this view from 16th Street.
Friends Select is the only Quaker school in Center City. This pre-K through 12th grade college preparatory school draws boys and girls from the city, suburbs and other countries.
Students venture beyond classrooms to explore the city through partnerships with museums and science institutes, academic internships and community service. Quaker values such as simplicity, peaceful resolution of conflict, respect and inclusion are practiced here in an atmosphere of integrity and warmth.
Friends Select has been in existence since 1833 and can trace its roots to the nation's first Friends school.
It has stood at this location since 1885.
[Captions:]
Direct learning and small class settings are hallmarks of a Friends Select education.
Class of 2001. The school welcomes a diversity of students from the city, suburbs and other countries.
From the street, most people would not know there's a rooftop playing field at Friends Select.
Erected by Fairmount Park, Philadelphia's Park System; Center City District.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education. In addition, it is included in the Quakerism series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 39° 57.362′ N, 75° 10.059′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Logan Square. Marker is at the intersection of Benjamin Franklin Parkway and North 17th Street, on the right when traveling west on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is at
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 17, 2022
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Power And Politics (a few steps from this marker); Three Disks, One Lacking (within shouting distance of this marker); Rock Form (Porthcurno) (within shouting distance of this marker); A Grand Plan / Parkway Museums District (within shouting distance of this marker); Three-Way Piece Number 1: Points (within shouting distance of this marker); Train Tracks from Treblinka (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Theresienstadt Tree (about 300 feet away); Six Pillars (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 17, 2022
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), December 17, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 258 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 14, 2017, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 21, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.