Manassas, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Jane Serepta Dean
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 30, 2019
1. Jane Serepta Dean Marker
Inscription.
Jane Serepta Dean. . Despite being born into slavery in 1848 and without the benefit of a formal education, Jane "Jennie" Serepta Dean's vision changed the lives of countless area African Americans. While working as a domestic servant in Washington, she travelled home by train on weekends to train "her people" in life skills, establish Sunday Schools, and finally, to establish the Manassas Industrial School in 1893, mostly with funds she raised from prominent East Coast philanthropists. The school provided both academic and vocational training within a Christian setting on its 100-acre campus. The school allowed students to earn their tuition and board through its industries, and products they sold also supported the school. After Dean's death in 1913, the campus became a regional high school for African Americans in 1938, and was later home to an integrated high school, middle school, and elementary school.
Despite being born into slavery in 1848 and without the benefit of a formal education, Jane "Jennie" Serepta Dean's vision changed the lives of countless area African Americans. While working as a domestic servant in Washington, she travelled home by train on weekends to train "her people" in life skills, establish Sunday Schools, and finally, to establish the Manassas Industrial School in 1893, mostly with funds she raised from prominent East Coast philanthropists. The school provided both academic and vocational training within a Christian setting on its 100-acre campus. The school allowed students to earn their tuition and board through its industries, and products they sold also supported the school. After Dean's death in 1913, the campus became a regional high school for African Americans in 1938, and was later home to an integrated high school, middle school, and elementary school.
Erected 2017 by Manassas Museum System, City of Manassas.
is included in the Virginia, City of Manassas series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.
Location. 38° 44.792′ N, 77° 29.228′ W. Marker is in Manassas, Virginia. It is on Wellington Road 0.1 miles south of Prince William Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9601 Prince William Street, Manassas VA 20110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Charter Cottage (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Charter Cottage (within shouting distance of
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 30, 2019
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 554 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 30, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
