by Len Lear

In 1850, a decade before Abraham Lincoln became President, the Chestnut Street Female Seminary, a private elite girls' school, was opened at 1615 Chestnut St. in center city with a student body of 20. In 1883 it moved to Ogontz, the former estate of Civil War financier Jay Cooke in Elkins Park, where it could accommodate up to 100 privileged students.

The name was changed to the Ogontz School for Young Ladies. Among other boldface names, world-renowned aviator Amelia Earhart attended the school in 1916 and 1917. Teachers included Oliver Freud, Dr. Sigmund Freud's son, and world-famous dancer/choreographer Martha Graham. “It was primarily a finishing school that taught you the social graces and prepared you for family responsibilities,” wrote Elizabeth McFarland of Wyncote, class of 1940.

In 1950 the then-co-ed student body of 225 welcomed another school name change, Penn State Ogontz. The school's principal and owner, Abby Sutherland, donated the property and school to (what was then) Penn State College.

In 1997 the name was again changed, this time to Penn State Abington. With a student body today of almost 4000, it has become one of the most diverse of the 19 Penn State University campuses. It draws its students from 17 states and 29 countries and currently grants four-year undergraduate degrees in business, science and the liberal arts.

Students can start more than 160 majors, and because of their emphasis on programs championing diversity, Penn State Abington is the first college in the country to be recognized by the Anti-Defamation League for its “No Place for Hate” movement.

Frank D. Quattrone, 74, a Penn State Abington staff member for its entire 19-year history, has authored a book, just published Sept. 19, “Penn State Abington and the Ogontz School” (Arcadia Publishing, $21.99), which recounts the history of the school and includes hundreds of vintage photos, some dating back more than a century.

For those who would think that a book on Penn State Abington might have a very limited potential audience, Frank would definitely disagree. “There are 145,000 students registered with the Alumni Association,” he said, “12,000 of whom live within a 25-mile radius of the college... Actually, I suggested writing the book to Chuck Marsh, the director of university relations, our marketing/PR department.

“I had been thinking about doing it for years, and he was absolutely delighted, as the college is in the midst of its centennial celebration — 100 years of education at its present site.”

Quattrone grew up in South Philly, graduated from Bishop Neumann High School, Villanova U. in 1964 with a B.A. in English and Purdue U. in 1968 with an M.A. in English. He lived on Mt. Airy Avenue from 1970 to 1974 and on Moreland Avenue in Chestnut Hill from 1976 to 1984 but currently lives in Willow Grove.

He won numerous awards as editor of the Ticket tabloid insert (entertainment news and features) in Montgomery Newspapers, which included more than a dozen weekly newspapers in eastern Montgomery County, such as the Ambler Gazette and Springfield Sun, and lower Bucks County from 1996 to 2014.

He has also taught literature, writing and journalism at several local colleges, including Penn State Abington. Kristin Pazulski, a former reporter for the Local who took a writing course with him at Rosemont College in 2010, once told me, “He is the one of the best teachers I ever had.” Quattrone has also authored two previous books about Ambler for Arcadia Publishing.

Although Frank will definitely not be purchasing a Mercedes convertible from the proceeds of these books, he explained last week, “I enjoy doing historical research; wrote countless history pieces for the magazines Montgomery County Town & Country Living and Chester County Town & Country Living, and enjoy even more interviewing unsung (and some sung) heroes whose stories might not be known unless someone like me turned up to pry their stories loose. Isn’t the best journalism the recounting of great stories?”

Who are Quattrone's own favorite writers? “From the past , Mark Twain (great storyteller, humorist and raconteur and brilliant satirist and chronicler of America’s rise to world prominence); Dostoyevsky (incredible psychological landscapes on panoramas bigger than life); Shakespeare (amazing characters, plots, themes and wordplay that still dazzle 400 years after his death); and Gabriel Garcia Marquez (magic realism, indelible characters, out-there storytelling).”

Quattrone's first scheduled presentation/book-signing will be on Friday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m., on the school's campus, 1600 Woodland Rd., Abington, room Lares 108. Free admission. Public invited. Frank will be introduced by David Rowland, president of the Old York Road Historical Society. More information at www.arcadiapublishing.com.