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Franklin in Williamson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
 

African-American Schools in Franklin
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African-American Schools in Williamson County

 
 
African-American Schools in Franklin side image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 9, 2020
1. African-American Schools in Franklin side
Inscription.
African-American Schools in Franklin
From 1888 until 1967, African-American students were educated on this site. First known as Claiborne Institute in honor of Prof. Willis Claiborne (1862-1892), later schools here were known as Franklin Colored (1907-1925), Franklin Training (1925-1961), and Natchez High (1961-1967). The present building, known as Claiborne-Hughes Health Center since 1982, was built in 1949. Johnson Elementary School, built in 1958 on Glass Lane, relieved the crowded campus. Principals here were W. F. Reynolds, Maggie Washington, Carrie Otey, James K. Hughes, Dr. I.H. Hampton, E.E. Pitts, J.R. Watkins, and Charles B. Spencer. Integration of public schools was realized in 1967, thirteen years after the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit.

African-American Schools in Williamson County
Following the Civil War, the Freemen's Bureau opened schools across Williamson County for the education of recently emancipated slaves, who had numbered over 12,000 in 1860. With the establishment of a public school system in 1873 Williamson County children attended segregated, mostly one-room schools The African American
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county schools included Allison, Beechvile, Boxley Valley, Boyd, Brentwood. Cedar Hill, Fitzgerald, Florenceville, Green Cove, Goose Creek, Hills Valley, Hillsboro, Holt-Edmondson, Huntsville, Kikland, Lee Buckner Linwood, Locust Ridge, Mt. LaVergne, Murfree'S Fork, Nolensville, Patton, Pearly Hill, Perkins, Rucker's Chapel, Rural Hill, Shady Grove, Thompson's Station, Watson Hill, and Westwood.
 
Erected 1999 by Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African AmericansEducation. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.
 
Location. 35° 55.062′ N, 86° 52.679′ W. Marker is in Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson County. It is at the intersection of Carter Street and Natchez Street, on the left when traveling north on Carter Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 317 Natchez St, Franklin TN 37064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee and in Greater Nashville. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North
African-American Schools in Williamson County side image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 9, 2020
2. African-American Schools in Williamson County side
America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Franklin's Green Book Entry (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); 183rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry (approx. 0.2 miles away); Whitehall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Scruggs-Turner House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Captain Theodrick (Tod) Carter (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bate's Division (approx. 0.2 miles away); Franklin Housing Authority (FHA)/ Reddick Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); 44th Missouri Infantry (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Franklin.
 
Additional keywords. Jim Crow South
 
African-American Schools in Franklin / African-American Schools in Williamson County Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 9, 2020
3. African-American Schools in Franklin / African-American Schools in Williamson County Marker
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 10, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,472 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on May 10, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 30, 2026