Sumner Elementary School

Brown Sites in Topeka

Until 1954, Sumner Elementary School was for white children only. Oliver Brown agreed to participate in the class action because it was not logical for African American children, including his daughter, to travel to Monroe Elementary School everyday when they could walk four blocks to Sumner School.

In 1987, this building was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Parks Service.  When it closed in 1996, Sumner had a minority enrollment of about 30 percent.

On February 23, 1996, WIBW News reported on the final class yearbook photograph taken at Sumner Elementary.

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