Margaret Bancroft’s Historic Legacy

Kathy Ross, Bancroft Historian, presents the history of Margaret Bancroft.

Born in 1854, Margaret Bancroft was a teacher in Philadelphia before finding her true purpose. In 1883, she founded one of the first schools in the country for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, starting in a small, rented house in Haddonfield with just one student, and eventually expanding to the 18-acre campus off Hopkins Lane. She created a nurturing environment where children could receive individualized education tailored to their abilities
Margaret Bancroft was also instrumental in founding another Haddonfield institution. In 1894 a group of a dozen women met at her home in Haddonfield to establish a center for “the promotion of the educational, literary and social interests of women”. They met every two weeks and so became known as The Haddon Fortnightly. Though now meeting monthly at their striking “Club House” at Kings Highway and Grove Street, the club still thrives and serves today’s community. This program is free, join us at 301 Kings Highway East.