Scattergood Friends School (West Branch, Iowa)

Scattergood Friends School grew out of the plans of Hickory Grove Monthly Meeting and Joseph Henry Scattergood's support for a Friends boarding school in Eastern Iowa. The school opened in 1890 with 39 students and aimed to provide a "substantial English education". The school came under the ownership and direction of the Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative) in 1917. Financial hardship closed the school from 1931-1944, though from 1939-1943 the school served as a hostel for European refugees. After reopening the school aimed to provide a college preparatory program with an international and interracial student body and faculty. Art, individual learning, and community service were emphasized at Scattergood. Students built many of the new school buildings, worked alongside faculty to run the school farm, and spent time each year travelling and performing service work.