MLK Center at Old Main: Petition to Preserve and Restore Old Main
Crozer Theological Seminary – Chester, PA (On the border of Upland)

 

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. 

 

Constructed in 1857 by John Price Crozer, Old Main has served multiple historic roles of national significance:

 

• A teachers' training college.

• A Civil War hospital housing both Union and Confederate soldiers following the Battle of Gettysburg.

• The principal building of the former Crozer Theological Seminary, where the future Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received his divinity degree.

• 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.

 

A Formative Site in the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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 Dr.Kings 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.

 

Preserving the Legacy of Old Main
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.

 

Stand With Us — Sign and Share
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.

 

History matters.
Legacy matters.
Your support matters.

National Recognition and Urgency
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.

 

Our Request:

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.