William Syphax

William Syphax (circa 1825 – June 15, 1891) was born into slavery in Alexandria County, Virginia. His mother was Maria Carter Syphax, an enslaved woman of mixed race who was the daughter of Ariana, a slave, and George Washington Parke Custis, the only grandson of Martha Washington. Syphax's father was Charles Syphax, a slave at Mount Vernon who oversaw construction at Arlington House. In 1826, Custis sold Maria Syphax, her eldest child Elinor, and William to a Quaker living in Alexandria, possibly to facilitate manumission. Custis also bequeathed Maria 17 acres of land from the Arlington estate. Charles Syphax was held as a slave until his emancipation in 1857, under the terms of George Washington Parke Custis's will.

William Syphax and his family relocated to the District of Columbia when he was approximately 11 years old. The city had a sizable free Black community, and the Syphax family became part of its social and economic elite. In 1851, Syphax began employment with the United States Department of the Interior. Throughout his early career, he established a network of connections within Washington, D.C.

During the American Civil War, Union forces confiscated the remainder of the Arlington estate, including land owned by Maria Syphax, which was used as a refuge for freedmen for a period. The transfer of her property did not have formal documentation, potentially due to state law. Syphax later leveraged his connections to ensure that his mother regained control of her property through a relief bill enacted by Congress in 1866.

Syphax's civic contributions included his appointment on July 8, 1868, to the Board of Trustees of Colored Schools in Washington, D.C. He was one of the earliest African Americans appointed to this board, serving as its first president. The board managed segregated public schools for students of color, which, despite segregation, maintained equal pay for Black and white teachers. Syphax supported the idea of a unified public school system and promoted equal educational standards. He oversaw the construction of notable schools including the Charles Sumner School and the Thaddeus Stevens School. In 1870, he organized The Preparatory High School for Colored Youth, later known as Dunbar High School, a prominent academic institution for Black students.

William Syphax died at his residence located at 1641 P Street NW in Washington, D.C., on June 15, 1891. The cause of death was not disclosed. He was buried at Columbian Harmony Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

His legacy includes the naming of the William Syphax School at 1322 Half Street SW in Washington, D.C. In 2020, the District of Columbia Public Schools announced that Syphax was among the finalists considered to replace the name of Woodrow Wilson High School. His historical significance is recognized through various references, including scholarly works and National Park Service resources documenting his family history and contributions.