About Us

Cape Palmas High School Alumni Association-USA INC

We, the graduates and former students of Cape Palmas High School located in Harper City, Maryland County, Republic of Liberia, West Africa, residing in the United States of America Cognizant of the need to unite and work collaboratively, share our resources in aiding our Alma Mater, have organized ourselves and founded the Cape Palmas High School Alumni Association – USA.

The mission of CPHSAA-USA is to:
A. Help promote and support quality education at Cape Palmas High School by providing material and human resource assistance.
B. Encourage membership in the Cape Palmas High School Alumni Association among graduates, former students, and supporters.
C. Encourage and coordinate members' activities to support the educational programs at Cape Palmas High School.

CPHSAA-USA shall operate as a nonprofit organization, and any net income or earnings which may be derived from its operations shall not inure to the benefit of any Association member, but shall be used to promote the purposes of the Association as stated. The Association shall have the power to do any and all things of every kind and nature permitted by law and by the Internal Revenue Code with respect to Section 501(c)(3) qualified exempt organization for the benefit of Cape Palmas High School. The Association shall not engage in commerce or other revenue-generating activities designed to gain profit.

Our Story

Cape Palmas High School (CPHS), originally called Cape Palmas Seminary, the oldest high school in the Southeastern region of Liberia, was established in February 1927 as a result of Rev. Dr. William. C. Cummings’ vision to educate the children of Harper, Cape Palmas and its environs. Located in Maryland County, Liberia, it was initially called The High School. The school started with three teachers, namely Prof. E. A. S. Brooks, Ed, Briggford Cummings and The Rt. Rev. Dr. William C. Cummings. The school was transferred to the Grebo Church in Krutown, Harper City, where CPHS was operated until it was transferred to the Cavalla River Company (CRC) building due to high enrollment. CPHS was once again transferred to the Rock School Parish building where the Episcopal Church had its school. Although the space available to the school was small and inconvenient, it did not deter the dedicated teachers and the leadership from educating the sons and daughters of Maryland County; the work had started and could not be stopped. For a third time, the school was transferred to the Cape Palmas Seminary building using the afternoon hours for its work. By this time the number of teachers had increased to include Professors Edward Briggford Cummings, Prof. E. A.S. Brooks, Messrs. Nathan Barnes Sr., H. Nyema Prowd, Mansfield Yancy, Mrs. Martha A. R. Tubman-Pratt, and Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Gibson.

In 1932, a committee was set up by the Department of Education with Counselor William V. S. Tubman, Sr. as Chairman to come up with a name for the school. Several names were proposed, including, Maryland County High School, Epiphany High School, Gbenalu High School, and Cape Palmas High School. After careful study by the Committee, Cape Palmas High School (CPHS) was selected and the original name, Cape Palmas Seminary, was dissolved.

CPHS was turned over to the Government of the Republic of Liberia under the leadership of Dr. G. W. Gibson who was then Secretary of Education and Rev. Dr. W. C. Cummings was made President Emeritus. After Dr. Cummings retired, the administration of the school was turned over to his son, Mr. Edward Briggford Cummings.

The officers and members of Cape Palmas High School Alumni Association in the Americas (CPHSAA-USA) take this time to salute these brilliant men and women for their vision, hard work, dedication, passion, and farsightedness in establishing the school and imparting knowledge and discipline to the men and women who attend the school. With little or nothing, they sacrificed their time and talent to teaching.