National Register Record for WHEELOCK ACADEMY

Historic Name: WHEELOCK ACADEMY
Current Name: None
Address: E OF MILLERTON AND 1.5 MILES N OF US 70
City: MILLERTON VICINITY            County: MCCURTAIN
Section: NE 1/4 SECTION 34           Township: 6S           Range: 22E          
Description of significance: WHEELOCK ACADEMY WAS THE ARCHETYPE FOR THE TRIBAL SCHOOL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED BY THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES IN INDIAN TERRITORY. AS THE FIRST NATIONAL ACADEMY FOUNDED UNDER THE CHOCTAW NATIONS ACT OF 1842, WHEELOCK SET THE PRECEDENT FOR SOME 35 ACADEMIES AND SEMINARIES MAINTAINED BY THE FIVE TRIBES. WHEELOCK BEGAN AS A MISSION SCHOOL, ESTABLISHED BY REV ALFRED WRIGHT IN 1832. AFTER 1842, WRIGHT WAS HIRED BY THE CHOCTAW NATION TO OPERATE WHEELOCK AS A NATIONAL SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL SUFFERED DURING THE CIVIL WAR. IT REOPENED AFTER THE WAR, BUT WAS NEARLY DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1869. IT WAS REBUILT WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE SOUTHERN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. WHEELOCK REMAINED A TRIBAL SCHOOL UNTIL 1932. AT THAT TIME, IT BECAME A U.S. GOVERNMENT INDIAN SCHOOL. IN 1955, THE SCHOOL MERGED WITH JONES ACADEMY AND THE SCHOOL CLOSED ITS DOORS. WHEELOCK ACADEMY INCLUDED MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. CONTRIBUTING BUILDINGS INCLUDE THE OLD SEMINARY, THE DINING HALL, THE OLD BARN, THE CHAPEL, THE DOMESTIC SCIENCE BUILDING, AND THE ARTS AND CRAFTS BUILDING. THE OLD SEMINARY IS THE OLDEST OF THESE EXTANT STRUCTURES, HAVING BEEN BUILT SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRE IN 1869. DESIGNATED A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK 12/21/1965. LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER 10/15/1966.

Type: DISTRICT
Historic Function: EDUCATION: SCHOOL
Current Function: VACANT / NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: EDUCATION
Area of Significance 2: ETHNIC HERITAGE: NATIVE AMERICAN
Architectural Style: UNCOLLECTED
Architect: UNKNOWN
Year Built: 1870 -1874            Original Site: YES
Condition: POOR
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: "ABOUT SOME OF OUR FIRST SCHOOLS IN CHOCTAW NATION," CHRONICLES OF OKLAHOMA VOL VI.; "CHOCTAW - WHEELOCK ACADEMY," FILE IN INDIAN ARCHIVES DIVISION, OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.; FOREMAN, GRANT. THE FIVE CIVILIZED TRIBES, (NORMAN, 1934).
Date Prepared: 1966