Peter William Cassey

Peter William Cassey
Peter Williams Cassey, c. 1863
Born(1831-10-13)October 13, 1831
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 16, 1917(1917-04-16) (aged 85)
St. Augustine, Florida, U.S.
Other namesPeter Williams Cassey
Occupation(s)School founder, Episcopal priest and deacon, educator, activist
Known forThe first African-American secondary school in California
Notable workPhoenixonian Institute
SpouseAnna Besent Cassey (married ?–1875; death)
Parents

Rev. Peter William Cassey (1831–1917) was an African-American 19th-century school founder, deacon, minister, educator, abolitionist, and political activist.[1][2][3] He was a pioneer in Santa Clara County.[4] Cassey founded the first African American secondary school in the state of California, the Phoenixonian Institute.[5][6][7] Cassey also worked as a prominent barber and co-owned a shaving saloon in San Francisco; and had worked as Methodist clergy in North Carolina and Florida. His name was sometimes written as Peter Williams Cassey.

  1. ^ Bishir, Catherine W. (2013-11-01). Crafting Lives: African American Artisans in New Bern, North Carolina, 1770-1900. UNC Press Books. p. 337. ISBN 978-1-4696-0876-1.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arkles was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Lapp, Rudolph M. (1977-01-01). Blacks in Gold Rush California. Yale University Press. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-300-06545-9.
  4. ^ Barkin, Harvey I. (March 3, 2021). "Historian's talk, book highlight local region's Black pioneers". Los Altos Town Crier. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  5. ^ Rivera, Alicia (January 30, 2007). "Peter William Casey". BlackPast.
  6. ^ Carter, Jennie; Gardner, Eric (2007). Jennie Carter: A Black Journalist of the Early West. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-60473-313-6.
  7. ^ Five Views. State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Historic Preservation. 1988. p. 78.