By Sofia Sorce

Photo: Courtesy of Oakwood Friends School

Among the land of Millbrook, lies the famous Nine Partners Boarding School, established in 1796, becoming the first co-educational boarding and day school in New York. Quakers held a firm belief in the inherent worth and equality of all individuals, regardless of race or gender. Therefore, it is not surprising that the school became a hub for abolitionist activities. 

Before the Nine Partners boarding school closed down in 1863, the school had produced numerous significant figures dedicated to the women’s suffrage movement, as well as the abolitionist movement. The Nine Partners Boarding School embraced these values and actively participated in the Underground Railroad network—an organized system of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people to escape to free states or Canada. 

The school’s location in Millbrook made it an ideal spot for hiding escaped slaves. Millbrook was strategically located between the slaveholding states in the South and the free states in the North, providing a natural stopping point for individuals seeking their freedom. Quaker families associated with the Nine Partners Boarding School provided safe havens for escaped slaves, offering them shelter, food, and assistance as they made their way to safety. Their actions exemplified the Quakers’ commitment to standing against injustice and supporting those seeking liberation from the bonds of slavery.