Crozer Theological Seminary – Upland, PA (On the border of Chester)
Protecting a Landmark of Civil War and Civil Rights History
We, the undersigned, respectfully petition for the preservation, restoration, and protection of Old Main, located at the historic site of Crozer Theological Seminary in Upland, PA (On the border of Chester).
Constructed in 1857 by John Price Crozer, Old Main has served multiple historic roles of national significance:
Physical evidence of its Civil War–era use remains intact, including structural modifications made to doors for the distribution of food to wounded soldiers, as well as preserved inscriptions of Union and Confederate soldiers within the cupola.
From 1948 to 1951, Martin Luther King Jr. lived and studied at Crozer Theological Seminary during a critical period of his intellectual and spiritual development.
During his time at Crozer:
He became the first African American elected president of the student body
He received the J. Lewis Crozer Fellowship
He was awarded the Pearl Ruth Plafker Memorial Award for scholarship, leadership, and character
The graduating class of 1951 represented a historic milestone in diversity, with a majority of graduates being African American or Asian, and included international students from Egypt, Japan, and China.
Old Main stands as a physical witness to this transformative era in American history.
Old Main is more than a historic building—it is a place where one of the most influential leaders in American history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., studied during his time at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania.
This building represents a critical chapter in the development of Dr. King's ideas about justice, equality, and nonviolence. Preserving Old Main means preserving a piece of history that helped shape the Civil Rights Movement and continues to inspire generations today.
By supporting this effort, you are helping ensure that this important landmark can one day serve as a center for education, reflection, and social justice in the spirit of Dr. King's legacy.
Your voice matters.
By signing this petition, you help demonstrate that our community and supporters across the country believe Old Main deserves to be preserved and protected. Please take a moment to sign the petition and share it with friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can bring attention to this important cause and help secure a future for this historic site.
Old Main was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and later received a marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission's State Marker Program in 1992.
Recognition alone does not ensure preservation.
Without coordinated restoration efforts, this nationally significant structure risks deterioration and the potential loss of irreplaceable historical evidence.
We respectfully call upon:
Federal, state, and local officials
Historical preservation agencies
Philanthropic foundations
Educational institutions
Corporate leaders
Community leaders
To allocate funding and resources and to lend collaborative support for the stabilization, restoration, and adaptive reuse of Old Main.
This petition affirms public support for the preservation of Old Main as:
A Civil War historical landmark
A site of theological and academic progress
A formative institution in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life
A cultural and educational asset for Chester
Preserving Old Main ensures future generations may learn from, visit, and experience this historic site.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
— The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.