Booker T. Washington Junior College facts for kids
| Type | Junior college |
|---|---|
| Active | 1949–1965 |
| Location |
,
,
U.S.
|
Booker T. Washington Junior College was a very important school in Florida. It was the first and longest-running junior college especially for African American students in the state. The school board in Escambia County started it in 1949. Before this college opened, African American students in Florida had very few choices for higher education. They could attend schools like Bethune-Cookman College, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M University, and Florida Memorial College. These were all colleges known as historically black colleges.
Contents
About Booker T. Washington Junior College
This college was named after Booker T. Washington. He was a famous and smart leader in the African American community. The college shared its buildings with Booker T. Washington High School. Both schools were located in Pensacola, Florida.
The College Leader
The first and only president of the college was Garrett T. Wiggins. He was also the principal of the high school. Mr. Wiggins was a very educated person. He was the only educator in northwest Florida with a special advanced degree called a doctorate. People often said he was "the smartest man in Escambia County."
Students and Growth
The college welcomed its first group of students in 1949. Its first class, with 23 students, graduated in 1951. At its busiest time, the college had 361 students. Many young people got their college education here.
Why the College Closed
In 1965, Booker T. Washington Junior College closed its doors. This happened because of new rules about schools being open to all students, no matter their race. This change was called integration.
Some people thought the college joined with Pensacola Junior College. Pensacola Junior College is now called Pensacola State College. But it's more correct to say Booker T. Washington Junior College simply closed. Sadly, many teachers from Booker T. Washington Junior College did not find new jobs that paid as well. Also, not many students from the college moved to Pensacola Junior College. Students who did go there sometimes felt they were not welcomed.
External links
- Booker T. Washington Junior College digital collections : You can find old papers and history about Booker T. Washington Junior College here. These are kept in the Pensacola State College Digital Collections.
