W.O. Boston High School, Lake Charles

September 12, 2018


W. O. Boston

 

Panthers have always been an enigma in the forest. The W. O. Boston  Panthers are now in full form on our site; they can be seen in all of their glory. Since 1907 they have been leaders in the Lake Charles community. They endured until 1983. Time and circumstances have a way of altering our realities. The proud Panthers are on display on this web site and we enthusiastically endorse their presence.

Reuben McCall High School, Tallulah, Louisiana

August 22, 2018

dragon

 

Education in Madison Parish did not come easily. The initial education efforts in the reconstruction period were managed by benevolent societies. Facilities were substandard, and educators and students were often treated poorly. Public schools were initially attended by African Americans and they were bitterly opposed by whites. One and two room schools dominated the landscape from the 1920’s. Finally, after World War II a surplus military  building was bought by the school board and became Reuben McCall High School, a centralized African American school in Tallulah. In 1950 a brick building was constructed. Later, the schools were consolidated at Reuben McCall High School for African Americans in Madison Parish.  This was accomplished by the bond issue of 1955. Integration  began by court order in 1965 and then in 1970 all of the schools were integrated.  Two year books were added from 1965 and 1966.

Booker T. Washington High School, Shreveport, Louisiana

August 21, 2018
039

1951 marked the beginning of the  Booker T. Washington High School Era. Central Colored High School, 1918, was replaced with a new facility. The administration and students all transferred to their new den . The Lion, the 1951 Year Book from the newly designed and erected school was the first edition. The Lions had much to roar about and they commenced to make sounds across the regional and national landscapes. They arrived with much fanfare and they have endured until today.

Princeton High School, Princeton, Louisiana

August 21, 2018

Princeton (1)

Princeton School traces its origin to an 1871 land deed by the Wesley Chapel Church. The Fillmore Colored School, Tin Top School and Cedar Grove School  were forerunners of something great. A 1919 grant by the Rosenwald Fund sealed the fate of this community project. Princeton Rosenwald School was founded and the name began to take form. A new high school was constructed in 1956 and was dedicated as the Princeton High School. The Dragons dressed in green and white and their story is historic. The Dragons’ story is similar to many other stories of African American high schools and its speaks to the determination and foresight into the perceived destinies of students who walked through Princeton High School’s doors.

The Late Sandra Parker’s McDonogh 35 1957 Scrap Book

August 15, 2018

 

Sandra Parker

The sole scrap book of an individual’s high school experience was provided to this site by the family of the late Sandra Parker. She was the valedictorian of the McDonogh 35 1957 Class. The memoir details the individual experience of a senior at McDonogh 35 High School. Aspirations of various people are imagined. School activities were  images of the times. We reflect and remember our personal high school experiences.

McDonogh 35 High School, New Orleans

August 14, 2018


Roneagle mascot

African American residents of New Orleans entered 1917 with new aspirations. John McDonogh, a late 19th century  entrepreneur, provided a grant to make this high school a reality. McDonogh 35 became the first public high school in New Orleans.  Often referred to as “35” , McDonogh has been a pillar of hope, achievement and excellence in New Orleans and its surrounding area since its inception. The eagle seen by others is the revered  Roneagle  of McDonogh 35. They are proud of their mascot and its endurance is a story in itself. Three year books from the Roneagles are available from the mid to late 1960s.

Newspaper Articles From 1968

August 8, 2018

African American High Schools in 1968

Outstanding LIALO Player

Newspaper Articles regarding LIALO activity were added for 1968. The articles are from the Advocate and the Times Picayune Newspapers.  These two newspapers covered the southern parts of Louisiana with largely urban exposures in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The articles are ordered by the month and chronologically within each month.  Unlike in previous years,  there was more attention paid to the African American high schools with major media coverage. Younger  readers will find this information quite informative and for individuals who attended these schools, it will remind them of yester years.