Public School Collection

Quadrangle of Eton College, 1880. Famous public school founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. A watercolour sketch from Windsor Castle and the Water-Way Thither by W H Davenport Adams

Dulwich College, London, 1829. Artist: J Rogers
Dulwich College, London, 1829. Dulwich College was founded in 1619 by a prominent Elizabethan actor named Edward Alleyn, with the original intention of providing an education for twelve poor boys

Girton College, nr. Cambridge, 1923. Girton College, established in 1869 as a college for women, the first one of Cambridge University. In 1976 it became coeducational

Colonial classroom in New England, 1600s
Early schoolroom in colonial New England. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Kindergarten children playing a game, 1870s
Kindergarten class playing an active game, " the windmill, " 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

The Great Hall, Dulwich College, (c1878). Creator: Unknown
The Great Hall, Dulwich College, (c1878). View of the boys public school in south-east London which was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, an Elizabethan actor

Portrait Of Sir John Nicholas, 1667. Creator: Peter Lely
Portrait Of Sir John Nicholas, 1667

Epsom College, 1923. Epsom College, public school, situated on the Downs (Surrey). It was founded in 1853 to provide support to the sons and orphans of members of medical professions

Godolphin House (gravure)
965568 Godolphin House (gravure) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Godolphin House. Illustration for Bygone Eton by R A Austen-Leigh (Spottiswoode & Co, 1912)

Rugby School, 1923. Rugby School (Warwickshire), founded in 1567 in accordance with the legacy of Lawrence Sheriff, an Elizabethan gentleman

Tonbridge School, 1923. Tonbridge School, an independent day and boarding school for boys in Tonbridge, Kent, founded by Sir Andrew Judde and qualified under Royal Charter by Edward VI in 1553

The entrance to Marlborough College, Marlborough, Wiltshire, early 20th century. In 1968, Marlborough became the first major English public school to allow girls into the sixth form

A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
5307717 A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays')

Illustration depicting Rugby football. The team sports rugby league and rugby union
5311082 Illustration depicting Rugby football. The team sports rugby league and rugby union. Rugby union originated at Rugby School in Rugby, Warwickshire and rugby league originated in Huddersfield

A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
5307712 A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays': Old Thomas, the school porter, in his den)

A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
5307726 A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays': Tom as volunteer Night Fag)

A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
5307715 A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays': Chairing Tom in the quadrangle)

A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
5307724 A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays': Tom, Captain of the team)

A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'
5307720 A scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays'.; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a scene from 'Tom Brown's Schooldays')

The Great Schools of England: the dining-hall at Christ's Hospital...singing a hymn, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England: the dining-hall at Christ's Hospital...singing a hymn, 1862. Founded in the 16th century, Christ's Hospital is one of the oldest boarding schools in England

The Great Schools of England: one of the dormitories at Christ's Hospital School, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England: one of the dormitories at Christ's Hospital School, 1862. Founded in the 16th century, Christ's Hospital is one of the oldest boarding schools in England

The Great Schools of England: Christ's Hospital - the Grammar-School, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England: Christ's Hospital - the Grammar-School, 1862. Founded in the 16th century, Christ's Hospital is one of the oldest boarding schools in England

Public school, c1910. Creator: Unknown
Public school, c1910. Group portrait of students around snow-covered school building--the children are standing on the roof, on snow banks, and in snow troughs.

The Great Schools of England, Rugby School, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England, Rugby School, 1862. Private school in Rugby, Warwickshire. '...the trustees, adopting the plan of their architect, Mr

The Great Schools of England, the Chapel at Rugby School, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England, the Chapel at Rugby School, 1862. Private school in Rugby, Warwickshire. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.

Public school, 1912. Creator: Unknown
Public school, 1912.

Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889. Creators: Joseph Keppler, Bernhard Gillam
Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889

Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889. Creators: Joseph Keppler, Bernhard Gillam
Cartoon from Puck, between 1880 and 1889

Entrance gateway of Westminster School, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Entrance gateway of Westminster School, 1860. Private school for boys in London. The approach to the school, which stands in Little Dean's-yard...is graced by a stone portal

Westminster School, 1860. Creator: Unknown
Westminster School, 1860. Private school for boys in London. The school, originally the dormitory of the monks of St. Peter's, is of great antiquity: it has a massive roof of chestnut

St. Mary and St. Nicholas College, Lancing, Sussex, 1856. Creator: Unknown
St. Mary and St. Nicholas College, Lancing, Sussex, 1856....a building to accommodate 1000 boys of the lower middle class

The Dulwich College Charity Meeting at the Adelphi Theatre, 1856. Creator: Unknown
The Dulwich College Charity Meeting at the Adelphi Theatre, 1856. Mr. [Charles] Dickens, the chairman, addressing the meeting [called by Mr

Step this Way, New York, 1938. Creator: Unknown
Step this Way, New York, 1938. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

Celebration of the Fourth of June at Eton, 1837. Creator: C. O. Lewis
Celebration of the Fourth of June at Eton, 1837. Regatta on the River Thames, with Windsor Castle in the distance as the boys of Eton College celebrate the birthday of George III

Melodies on Parade, New York, [1930s]. Creator: Unknown
Melodies on Parade, New York, [1930s]. The Federal Theatre Project, created by the U.S. Works Progress Administration in 1935, was designed to conserve and develop the skills of theater workers

The Speech Day at Harrow School - Visit of Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales, 1854. Creator: Unknown
The Speech Day at Harrow School - Visit of Prince Albert and the Prince of Wales, 1854. Prize-giving at the private school of Harrow in London

'Dover College, 1891. Creator: Unknown
'Dover College, 1891. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper", Volume 44. July to December, 1891

View from the Library Window, Windsor Castle, c1897. Creator: Unknown
View from the Library Window, Windsor Castle, c1897. The chapel of Eton College seen from the royal residence at Windsor. From "The Queen's Resolve

"The Domum", at Winchester College, 1854. Creator: Unknown. "The Domum", at Winchester College
"The Domum", at Winchester College, 1854. Annual singing of the school song, which dates back to at least 1773, at Winchester College, a private boys school in Hampshire

Tercentenary Anniversary of King's School, Sherborne, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Tercentenary Anniversary of King's School, Sherborne, [Dorset], 1850....the gathering [was] very large, owing as well to the anxiety of all old Sherbornians...to meet their old schoolfellows...a

Library of Winchester College, c. 1816. Creator: Frederick Mackenzie
Library of Winchester College, c. 1816

Public school, between c1900 and 1927. Creator: Unknown
Public school, between c1900 and 1927

Public school provided by the U.S. Government, between c1900 and c1930. Creator: Lomen Brothers
Public school provided by the U.S. Government, between c1900 and c1930

Public school, 1906. Creator: Case & Draper. Public school, 1906. Creator: Case & Draper
Public school, 1906. Group portrait of students and teachers in front of two-story school building

Woodhouse-Grove School, near Leeds, for the education of the sons of Methodist Ministers, 1862. Creator: Unknown
Woodhouse-Grove School, near Leeds, for the education of the sons of Methodist Ministers, 1862. The new institution was opened in 1812

The Great Schools of England: St. Paul's School - the schoolroom, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England: St. Paul's School, east end of St. Paul's Churchyard, 1862. This ancient and still flourishing foundation

The Great Schools of England: St. Paul's School, east end of St. Paul's Churchyard, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England: St. Paul's School, east end of St. Paul's Churchyard, 1862. This ancient and still flourishing foundation

The Great Schools of England - Charterhouse from the Green, 1862. Creator: Unknown
The Great Schools of England - Charterhouse from the Green, 1862. Charterhouse, a public school, was founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of a Carthusian monastery

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"Journey through Time: Exploring the Evolution of Public Schools" Step into history as we take you on a captivating journey through the world of public schools. From the grandeur of Eton College's Quadrangle in 1880 to the humble Colonial classroom in New England during the 1600s, each image tells a unique story. In the 1870s, kindergarten children joyfully engage in games, showcasing how education has evolved to embrace early childhood development. Meanwhile, Godolphin House stands tall and proud in its timeless elegance, a testament to enduring educational institutions. The portrait of Sir John Nicholas by Peter Lely transports us back to 1667, offering a glimpse into an era where public schooling was beginning to shape society. The Great Hall at Dulwich College captures our attention with its majestic architecture and echoes of knowledge shared within its walls since c1878. Girton College near Cambridge takes us forward to 1923 when women were finally granted access to higher education—an inspiring milestone for gender equality. Dulwich College's depiction from London in 1829 reminds us that these institutions have long been pillars of learning and community support. Rugby School and Tonbridge School both proudly display their vibrant campuses from 1923—a reminder that they are not just about academics but also foster camaraderie and personal growth among students. As we gaze upon Marlborough College's entrance from the early 20th century, we witness how these establishments seamlessly blend tradition with progressiveness. Finally, "A View of Eton and Fellows Eyot" transports us once more back in time—c1835-45—to appreciate how nature intertwines harmoniously with education. Public schools have stood as beacons of enlightenment throughout centuries—shaping minds, nurturing talents, fostering friendships—and continue doing so today. Let these glimpses into their rich heritage inspire gratitude for all they offer: knowledge passed down, memories made, and futures shaped within their hallowed halls.