People Photo: Paul Wesley Frank Quattrone Frank Quattrone has just finished a book about the incredibly interesting history of Penn State Abington and has had lifelong success in both writing and teaching –Patti Guthrie 24 M O N T C O M A G . C O M PPENN STATE ABINGTON AND THE OGONTZ SCHOOL is Frank Quattrone’s newest book. It traces the evolution of what Frank calls one of the best campuses in the Penn State University system. “It also is one of the most diverse in the country. Nearly half of the student population is African American, Latinas, Asian or International representing 29 countries.” It was started in 1850 as an elite finishing school for wealthy young ladies called the Chestnut Street Female Seminary. Penn State Abington began as an elite finishing school for wealthy young ladies called the Chestnut Street Female Seminary. It was located at 1615 Chestnut Street in and was founded by Mary Vonney and Harriet Dillaye. They had attended the Troy Female Seminary in New York State and decided to open their school in Philadelphia. The building had four stories and could accommodate up to 20 girls who
esided there. They were taught liberal arts, painting, how to entertain and run a household—in short the skills a young woman would need as the wife of a diplomat, politician or other prominent man. The school rapidly gained national recognition for excellence. That success led to their need to move, since in time they outgrew their building. Enter Jay Cook who had achieved fame during the Civil War. Frank explained Cook had grown up in Sandusky, Ohio where, as a boy, he knew a Native American named Chief Ogontz, whom Jay never forgot. Cook came to Philadelphia, became a successful banker and moved to a huge mansion in Elkins Park that he named Ogontz after his childhood friend. When his family got too large for the mansion, he offered to rent it to the Chestnut Street Female Seminary for $15,000 a year. So, the school moved to the suburbs. The larger building enabled them to quintuple their enrollment from 20 to 100 students. In addition, it was spacious enough to accommodate the teachers, school staff, gardeners, cooks etc. In the new building it was the Ogontz School for Young Ladies and drew students from all over the US. The list of students reads like a Who’s Who of prominent American families with names like Strawbridge, Campbell, DuPont and the like. Among their famous alumnae are Mary Curtis, founder of Philadelphia’s world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music and Cornelia Forte, the first person to spot Japanese planes on the horizon on their way to attack Pearl Harbor. However, as far as Frank is concerned, their most famous alumna is Amelia Earhart. He explained, “Her family wasn’t wealthy. But, she wanted to go to Bryn Mawr and knew if she attended Ogontz, she’d be a shoe-in.” At that time, the school had four sororities. “A friend of Amelia’s wanted to join a particular one but was denied. So, Amelia went to see Abby Sutherland, the school President, making an inquiry for her friend, saying, ‘I thought we were a democratic society’. The result was the disbanding of the sororities,” he said, continuing, “Abby and Amelia respected each other completely.” In April 1916, because they once again had outgrown their space, they began construction of Sutherland Hall at their new location, the present site of Penn State Abington. The building was completed by the end of 1916, just in time for classes in January 1917. With it, they were able to increase their enrollment substantially. Frank explained, “Earhart was a student at both campuses,” adding, “I fell in love with her while researching this book.” By 1916, finishing schools almost were finished. So, Sutherland, who now owned Ogontz, expanded her school’s mission, enrolling students from kindergarten through the first two years of college. She also continued military drills as part of the curriculum, the first women’s school in the US to have them. It was a distinctive program teaching teamwork, discipline and camaraderie, which the girls hated but also valued. In 1950, at the age of 80, Abby Sutherland donated the Ogontz School to Penn State. By 1957, they had to eliminate dorms because so many wanted to attend. Their enrollment jumped to today’s 4,000 students. From 1957 through 2016, they’ve been a commuter school. Frank explained, “All of that’s about to change because we’re adding dorms.” In 1997, it became Penn State Abington and now has a dozen buildings on campus. In October 2015, Frank Quattrone met with the head of their marketing department to suggest a book because, “It’s our Centennial. Since 1916, the college has been teaching.” The result of that meeting is Penn State Abington and the Ogontz School. Frank grew up in South Philly. After graduation from Bishop Neumann, he earned a B.A. in English from Villanova and an M.A. in English from Purdue University in Indiana. He explained, “I thought my life’s work would be writing and editing, but discovered I also enjoy teaching. I got a fellowship at Purdue that required teaching two classes each semester, which I wasn’t looking forward to. However, I loved it. For me, it goes both ways. I learn as much as I teach. I love the stimulation of being in the classroom.” After Purdue, he returned to Philadelphia and taught for a year at Neumann before landing a teaching job at Spring Garden College. He stayed 24 years, the last 10 as Chairman of the Arts and Sciences Department. He now refers to this period in his life as the big bubble. “It was between college and what I’m doing now.” The bubble burst when Spring Garden closed. “They couldn’t compete,” he said. However, while there, he met and married Eve who had two children. They now have 5 granddaughters. After the college closed, Frank worked for an educational consulting company for three years, saying “I was in a holding pattern.” He also started freelance writing for Montgomery Newspapers and eventually became editor of Ticket, the arts and entertainment section for Montgomery Newspapers, commenting, “In the second year and again in 2010, Ticket won the award as the best entertainment and lifestyle section in North America from Suburban Newspapers of America.” Frank left Montgomery Newspapers saying, “I worked for a non-profit before getting my present job as a full time member of Penn State Abington. I have a half and half contract: I teach two courses each semester and am a communications specialist. Right now, I’m enjoying the perfect marriage of my two passions teaching and writing.” Arcadia Publishing has published three of Frank’s books. So, enjoy Penn State Abington and the Ogontz School, available at Barnes & Noble or directly from www.arcadiapublishing.com. PATTI GUTHRIE IS A FREELANCE WRITER AND ANTIQUES DEALER FROM CHALFONT, PA. W I N T E R 2 0 1 6 25
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