basic history

lvermorny was founded in 1627 by Irish immigrant Isolt Sayre and her no-maj husband, James Steward. It started as a shack that taught their two adoptive children Chadwick and Boot, but has since expanded to house many other students. Some of these students included some from Native American tribes, thus their style of wandless magic has since integrated to the Ilvermorny curriculum. The original four (Sayre, Steward, Chadwick and Boot) created the four houses from the magical creatures they liked the most, and Ilvermorny continued to expand.

After Isolt's aunt, Gromlaith Gaunt, attacked the school and was finally killed, Isolt put her Snakewood wand into the soil of Ilvermorny courtyard. Today, a massive Snakewood tree still thrives there. It's a very big part of Ilvermorny's history.

Since the 18th century Ilvermorny is a granite castle, and is enchanted by a misty cloud that hides it from the no-majs. During the time when Rappaport's Law was in effect, students were only allowed wands while they were within the walls of Ilvermorny until the age of seventeen. Since the law was abolished in 1965, students are now allowed to take their wands home with them during the breaks, but similarly to the UK, they are put under the trace. Performing magic underage is the same offence as it is in the UK.

Today Ilvermorny is one of the best magical education establishments in the world, and houses just over a thousand North American students at a time.

rappaport's law

This law was in effect all across North America between 1790-1965. The law segregated the magical community from the no-maj one entirely. American witches and wizards were not allowed contact with no-majs, were not allowed to marry them or have friendships or associations with them. Since the law was scrapped, the attitudes in the American wizarding world have really shifted. They now believe that witches and wizards should have an in-depth understanding of no-majs, and are taught at an early age (see below) about their world. They are probably more knowledgeable about the no-maj world than your average British wizard.

The International Statute of Secrecy still applies to the American wizarding world, just as it does in the UK.