It is named for Abiel Smith, a white philanthropist who left money (an estimated $4,000) in his will to the city of Boston for the education of black children.

Abiel Smith, a white philanthropist, left money (an estimated $4,000) in his will to the city of Boston for the education of black children.

The city used part of his legacy to construct the school building next to the African Meeting House,[1] commissioning Richard Upjohn as architect, in his first public project.

He helped organize the colored citizens of Boston to elect supportive School Committee members.

In 1849, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools were allowed under the state's constitution (Roberts v. City of Boston).