Braintree Historical Society

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Thayer Academy Program

THAYER PHILOSOPHY

Thayer Academy's mission is to inspire a diverse community of students to moral, intellectual, aesthetic, and physical excellence so that each may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good.

BHS Program with the Thayer Academy

General Sylvanus Thayer, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, and graduated as valedictorian from both Dartmouth College and the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. General Thayer was dedicated to hard work, and at the age of 17, taught in the local schools of Hanover, New Hampshire to earn money to pay for college – an early sign of the importance he attached to teaching and education. He was Superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point from 1817–1833 and is considered the Father of West Point.

General Thayer's 1871 will provided for the creation of Thayer Academy, and on September 12, 1877, the Academy opened its doors to 30 students in what is now Main Building. Glover opened sometime later in 1894. The junior school (grades 5-8), Thayerlands, opened in 1924 and quickly grew to include eight grades as well as kindergarten and nursery school. Beginning in 1969, the lower grades were gradually eliminated, and Thayerlands became Thayer Academy Middle School. Thayer has been a co-educational institution since its founding.

Thayer Academy is a prestigious private coeducational college-preparatory day school. Its 34-acre campus consisting of eight buildings and 54 classrooms is located in the heart of Braintree, across from the Braintree Historical Society Campus grounds and the General Sylvanus Thayer birthplace. Thayer annually enrolls approximately 470 students in the Upper School (grades 9–12) and an additional 220 students in the Middle School (grades 6–8) and Grade 5 commencing in the 2018-19 academic year. Students are drawn primarily from Boston's Metro West and South Shore communities.

Thayer Internship Program - 2019

George Rowe and Christian Collins have interned at the Society, from Thayer Academy, contributing a combined 160 hours of their time.

The Braintree Historical Society was pleased to host Thayer Academy seniors, George Rowe and Christian Collins, during the month of May for a student internship as a part of their year-end senior project.

Brookline resident, George, and Braintree native, Christian, worked at the Society’s Gilbert Bean Barn & Mary Bean Cunningham Historical Resource Center four hours a day, five days a week for a combined total of 160 hours, supporting BHS Directors, Curators, Librarians and volunteers, Bob Harris, Mary Frazier, Ruth Powell, Claudia Shutter, Claudette Newhall and Gail Columbare with a variety of tasks critical to the Society’s reorganization of 31 Tenney Road location and its other campus buildings.

George and Christian toured the Society’s General Sylvanus Thayer House & Museum and the Gallivan House, had the opportunity to view many of the Society’s collection items, including original documents signed by Abraham Lincoln and had the opportunity to learn about both famous and infamous aspects of Braintree’s history. Both George and Christian played a major role in relocating collection items stored in the Barn’s attic and in reorganizing spaces on the first and basement floors of the building. Their willingness to take on any task, their reliability, their professionalism and their sense of humor is a credit to Thayer Academy and to their families. While those who worked with George and Christian will miss them, the staff and the Society wish them the best as they graduate, enter college, and move forward with the next major step in their young lives.

Thayer Internship Program - 2018

Curator, Mary Frazier stands with Intern, Maximilian Wagner and Supervisory Director, Robert Harris

Curator, Mary Frazier stands with Intern, Maximilian Wagner and Intern Supervisor, Robert Harris

2018 Intern Program:

BHS was pleased to host Senior Max Wagner from Thayer Academy during the month of May 2018 for a student internship as a part of his year-end senior project.

Max worked at the Society’s Gilbert Bean Barn & Mary Bean Cunningham Resource Center 5 mornings a week, supporting BHS Directors, Curators and Librarians, Bob Harris, Mary Frazier, Ruth Powell, Claudia Shutter and Claudette Newhall with a variety of tasks critical to the Society’s reorganization of the 31 Tenney Road location.

Max toured the Society’s General Sylvanus Thayer House & Museum and the Gallivan House, had the opportunity to view many of the Society’s collection items and had the opportunity to learn about both famous and infamous aspects of Braintree’s history. In addition to working to relocate and restore the Society’s computer and internet systems, Max played a major role in moving collection items stored in the Barn loft and the attic, in reorganizing spaces on the first and basement floors of the building and in repairing parts of the building and collection items.

Max’s efforts were central to making significant progress toward the Society’s goal of reopening to the public the Gilbert Bean Barn and Mary Bean Cunningham Resource Center in the fall. While those who worked with Max will miss him, they and the Society wish him the best as he graduates, enters college, and moves forward with the next major step in his young life.

BHS - Thayer Academy - 2018 Intern Program:

BHS was pleased to host Senior Max Wagner from Thayer Academy during the month of May 2018 for a student internship as a part of his year-end senior project.

Max worked at the Society’s Gilbert Bean Barn & Mary Bean Cunningham Resource Center 5 mornings a week, supporting BHS Directors, Curators and Librarians, Bob Harris, Mary Frazier, Ruth Powell, Claudia Shutter and Claudette Newhall with a variety of tasks critical to the Society’s reorganization of the 31 Tenney Road location.