Louisa Parke Costin

Louisa Parke Costin (c. 1804 – October 31, 1831) established a school for African American children in 1823. Located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., it was known as the first public school for black children in the city.

She was related to Martha Washington through her father John Dandridge, who was Costin's paternal grandfather. Martha Washington was her mother's slaveholder. When Washington died, her granddaughter Elizabeth Parke Custis Law inherited Delphy. Two years later, Delphy and her daughters Louisa and Ann were manumitted by Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Law.

Early life Louisa Parke Costin was born c. 1804, the daughter of William Costin and Philadelphia ( Delphy) Judge of Washington, D.C. William Costin's mother, Ann Dandridge, was of Cherokee and African American descent After William's birth, Ann married an enslaved man at Mount Vernon with the Costin surname.

All future children of the couple were born free. Martha and Frances, the two younger daughters, completed their education in Baltimore at the Colored Convent. The family lived in a house on A Street in Capitol Hill that William had built in 1812. The Costins also took in four orphaned children.

In an article about the history of colored public schools in Georgetown and Washington, D.C., recognizing specific pioneers including Costin, Professor Frederick A. P. Barnard states:

Costin established a school for African American children in her father's house on Capitol Hill in 1823. She operated the school until 1831, when she died. Her mother also died that year. Her sister Martha opened the school again in 1832 after she had completed her education at a convent school in Baltimore. She operated the school until 1839. Throughout its operation, the school was always full.