Power Memorial Academy

1931 - 1984

Established by the Congregation of Christian Brothers as a Catholic all boys high school in 1931, Power Memorial Academy was originally located on 15 West 124th Street in Harlem. In 1938, the school relocated to the former maternity hospital on Amsterdam Avenue and West 61st Street at Lincoln Square. Famous for its basketball team, the Power Panthers, the school’s most notable alumni is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Due to the increasing costs to operate the school, the school was forced to close in 1984. Despite being located in predominantly Black and Puerto Rican neighborhoods, the school was said to be diverse, with a population that was one-third Latino, one-third black and one-third white.

Cover of publication about Power Memorial Academy
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Details

Category
School
Instructional Level
High School
Audience
Teenagers
Founder(s)
Congregation of Christian Brothers
Corporate Body
Archdiocese of New York
Tags
parochial, boys, LincolnSquare, Catholic, Harlem, highschool

Location

  • 101-161 W 61st St, New York, NY 10023, USA
    1938 - 1984
  • 15-21 W 124th St, New York, NY 10027, USA
    1931 - 1938

Archival Collections

  • ? - ?
    at The Archives of the Archdiocese of New York
    Sites of Teaching & Learning 3

References

  1. Jackson, Kenneth T., and Flood, Nancy, eds. The Encyclopedia of New York City. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010.
  2. "New Site Acquired by Power Academy." New York Times (1923-Current File), Jun 23, 1938. http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/docview/102391124?accountid=10226.
  3. Rimer, Sara. "500 Protest Planned Closing of Power Memorial Academy." New York Times (1923-Current File), Jan 08, 1984. http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/docview/122378949?accountid=10226.
  4. Rimer, Sara. "The Closing of Power Memorial is Mourned as a Death in Family." New York Times (1923-Current File), Jun 08, 1984. http://ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.cul.columbia.edu/docview/122454902?accountid=10226.