Background
Prudence Crandall was born on September 3, 1803 in the town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island, United States.
Prudence Crandall was born on September 3, 1803 in the town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island, United States.
She was educated in the Friends' school at Providence, Rhode Island.
Crandall taught school at Plainfield, Connecticut, and in 1831 established a private academy for girls at Canterbury, Windham county, Connecticut. By admitting a negro girl she lost her white patrons, and in March 1833, on the advice of William Lloyd Garrison and Samuel J. May (1797- 1871), she opened a school for "young ladies and little misses of colour. "
Thereupon the local opposition to her redoubled, and she was finally in September 1834 forced to close her school.
The Connecticut Black Law,
which forbade the establishment of schools for nonresident African American children, was repealed in 1838.
She was married to the Rev. Calvin Philleo.