Lincoln Institute (Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln Institute Complex
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Berea Hall, the main administrative and classroom building at the Lincoln Institute
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| Nearest city | Simpsonville, Kentucky |
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| Area | 21.8 acres (8.8 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Built by | Lynn Gruber |
| Architect | G. W. Foster & W. V. Tandy (Berea Hall) |
| Landscape architect | Frederick Law Olmsted |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| MPS | Shelby County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002926 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 1988 |
The Lincoln Institute was a special boarding school for African Americans in Shelby County, Kentucky. It was a high school that operated from 1912 to 1966.
Contents
The Lincoln Institute: A Special School
The Lincoln Institute was created by the leaders of Berea College. This happened after a law called the Day Law was passed in Kentucky in 1904. This new law stopped Black and white students from going to school together at Berea College. Before this law, students of all races had learned together at Berea since the end of the American Civil War.
The founders chose the name Lincoln because they realized no other school in Kentucky was named after President Abraham Lincoln. They wanted the school to be both a college and a high school at first. However, by the 1930s, it focused only on being a high school.
What Students Learned
Lincoln Institute offered different types of education. Students could learn skills for jobs, which is called vocational education. They also took regular high school classes. The school had a large campus of 444 acres (180 ha). Students even grew much of the school's food right there on campus.
A Famous Student: Whitney M. Young Jr.
One very famous person who went to the Lincoln Institute was Whitney M. Young Jr.. He was a very important leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He also led the National Urban League from 1961 to 1971.
Whitney Young Jr. was born on the school campus in 1921. His father, Whitney Young Sr., was the principal of the school for many years.
What Happened to the Campus?
Over time, schools in America became integrated, meaning students of all races could attend together. This was a big part of the Civil Rights Movement. Because of this change, there was less need for separate high schools like Lincoln Institute. So, in 1966, the Lincoln Institute closed its doors.
After it closed, the campus was used for a new school. From 1966 to 1970, it was home to the Lincoln School for the Gifted. This school helped talented children who faced challenges. A former science teacher, Samuel Robinson, led this new school.
Since 1972, the old Lincoln campus has been used as the Whitney M. Young Jr. Job Corps Center. This center is part of a program run by the United States Department of Labor. It helps young people get academic and job training. Students can live at the center or attend classes during the day. The center is named after Whitney M. Young Jr., the civil rights leader and former student.
Lincoln's Legacy Today
Today, the campus also has the Whitney Young Birthplace and Museum. This museum is a National Historic Landmark. It shares the story of the Lincoln Institute and the life of Whitney Young Jr. Near the campus entrance, there is also a historical marker. It remembers an event from the American Civil War involving soldiers.
The Lincoln Foundation was started at the same time as the school. This foundation continues the important work of the Lincoln Institute. It offers educational programs for young people in the Louisville area who need extra support. The foundation also helps keep the history of the Lincoln Institute alive.
