Marianna in Jackson County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Gilmore Academy - Jackson County Training School
1922-1970
Photographed By Mark Hilton, June 4, 2014
1. Gilmore Academy - Jackson County Training School Marker
Inscription.
Gilmore Academy - Jackson County Training School. In 1922, Robert T. Gilmore (1879-1948), born in Monticello, founded Gilmore Academy, one of Jackson County's first African-American high schools. Trustees of Marianna's African-American community purchased this three-acre site in 1907 and raised $2,500 of the $4,500 needed to qualify for a Rosenwald Fund grant to build a two-story, limestone, six-teacher school. Created by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) and educator Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), the fund financed the building of 5,395 schools between 1912 and 1932 to address the dismal state of education for southern blacks. After graduating its first class in 1931, the Academy was renamed Jackson County Training School (J.C.T.S.) As enrollment grew, grades 1-6 moved to the nearby Baptist Academy. In 1952, 85 years after the Colored School Society petitioned the state to build a school for newly freed slaves, the County built an elementary school on South Street. A high school was built on the same site in 1956, and Gilmore Academy closed. In 1970, 16 years after desegregation, J.C.T.S. became Marianna Middle School. Although the schools were "separate and unequal," principals, faculty and staff helped thousands of students become productive citizens.
In 1922, Robert T. Gilmore (1879-1948), born in Monticello, founded Gilmore Academy, one of Jackson County's first African-American high schools. Trustees of Marianna's African-American community purchased this three-acre site in 1907 and raised $2,500 of the $4,500 needed to qualify for a Rosenwald Fund grant to build a two-story, limestone, six-teacher school. Created by philanthropist Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) and educator Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), the fund financed the building of 5,395 schools between 1912 and 1932 to address the dismal state of education for southern blacks. After graduating its first class in 1931, the Academy was renamed Jackson County Training School (J.C.T.S.) As enrollment grew, grades 1-6 moved to the nearby Baptist Academy. In 1952, 85 years after the Colored School Society petitioned the state to build a school for newly freed slaves, the County built an elementary school on South Street. A high school was built on the same site in 1956, and Gilmore Academy closed. In 1970, 16 years after desegregation, J.C.T.S. became Marianna Middle School. Although the schools were "separate and unequal," principals, faculty and staff helped thousands of students become productive citizens.
Erected 2004 by the Gilmore Academy-Jackson County Training School Alumni
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Association, Inc. and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-506.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.
Location. 30° 46.454′ N, 85° 14.517′ W. Marker is in Marianna, Florida, in Jackson County. Marker is at the intersection of Orange Street and Clay Street, on the right when traveling south on Orange Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2871 Orange Street, Marianna FL 32448, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 866 times since then and 79 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
