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Women Exercising at Western High School in 1899: Frances Benjamin Johnston at the Library of Congress

Take a look at these photos of women exercising at Western High School in 1899, part of Frances Benjamin Johnston's collection at the Library of Congress. The building now houses the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. See more photos and learn about the school's famous alumni here.
Washington, D.C., circa 1906. "Senator George P. Wetmore, Rhode Island."
Balloon view of Washington, D.C., Harper's Weekly, July 27, 1861, p. 476. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-71022. Smithsonian Institution Building can be seen at the top center east of the Potomac River and Virginia, Washington Canal visible, proceeding from the Potomac River due east and then southeast.
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These photos are all part of the Frances Benjamin Johnston at the Library of Congress and were taken in 1899. They depict women exercising at Western High School, which no longer exists, but the building now houses the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, located at 3500 R St. NW.

Frances Benjamin Johnston was one of the earliest American female photographers and journalists.

Women at Western High School playing basketball
Women at Western High School playing basketball. Only one score is visible, with two free throws and two “goals” made.
Women at Western High School posing on an exercise device
Women at Western High School posing on an exercise device…not exactly sure what it does.
Women at Western High School exercising
Women at Western High School exercising

More pictures we dug up here.

Western High School has some famous alumni including Gloria Steinem, the social justice activist who became famous for being a leader of the women’s liberation movement, and David Scott, an astronaut who walked on the moon. Here’s a list of more accomplished Western alumni.

Here is what used to be Western High School and is now the Duke Ellington School of the Arts:

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=duke+ellington+school+of+the+arts+dc&aq=&sll=42.944291,-76.559655&sspn=0.52274,1.352692&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=&ll=38.91315,-77.070225&spn=0.006295,0.006295&t=m&layer=c&cbll=38.912846,-77.069212&panoid=uYHaxMwdRU8U72uJZmOATA&cbp=12,277.93,,0,0.82&output=svembed&w=425&h=350]

Source: Library of Congress, Western High School

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