Panama City in Bay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Rosenwald High School

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 13, 2022

1. Rosenwald High School Marker Side 1

Inscription.

Rosenwald High School. . , In 1913, Jewish philanthropist and Sears, Roebuck and Company chairman, Julius Rosenwald, joined African American rights activist Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute to help support a project to design and operate schools for black children in the rural South. Rosenwald and his family established the Rosenwald Fund in 1917 for the well-being of mankind; the rural African American school-building program was one of its largest programs. The Bay County School Board and local black community joined forces during the mid-1920s to take advantage of the assistance available to them from the fund to build a school in the Panama City black neighborhood of Shinetown. The fund required school boards to agree to operate such schools and to arrange for matching funds. Black communities were required to raise funds or donate property and labor for the construction of schools. During the 1927-1928 budget year, the Bay County School Board partnered with the local black community to purchase land to build and operate a school under the Rosenwald program. Located at 819 E. 11th Street, the school was built in accordance with the Rosenwald Fund specifications and named Panama City High School. , The building served the black community in Panama City as an elementary and high school, and in 1939 graduated its first class of three students. By that year, the school had been renamed in honor of Julius Rosenwald to avoid an identity conflict with the all-white Panama City High School. Enrollment increased to 125 students by 1944. The school continued to grow, and served grades 1 through 12 until a new junior-senior high school was built. Land for the new school was purchased in 1950, and the building was dedicated in 1951. The school was relocated to this campus, and the Rosenwald name was transferred to it. African American students were educated on this site from 1952 to 1967. Many students graduated and went on to further their education. The desegregation of public schools in Bay County began in 1966. Rosenwald was a middle school serving grades 6 through 8 from 1967 to 2009, and then became an alternative high school serving grades 9 through 12. Rosenwald and its alumni continue to be a vital part of the community. , A Florida Heritage Site

In 1913, Jewish philanthropist and Sears, Roebuck and Company chairman, Julius Rosenwald, joined African American rights activist Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute to help support a project to design and operate schools for black children in the rural South. Rosenwald and his family established the Rosenwald Fund in 1917 for the well-being of mankind; the rural African American school-building program was one of its largest programs. The Bay County School Board and local black community joined forces during the mid-1920s to take advantage of the assistance available to them from the fund to build a school in the Panama City black neighborhood of Shinetown. The fund required school boards to agree to operate such schools and to arrange for matching funds. Black communities were required to raise funds or donate property and labor for the construction of schools. During the 1927-1928 budget year, the Bay County School Board partnered with the local black community to purchase land to build and operate a school under the Rosenwald program. Located at 819 E. 11th Street, the school was built

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in accordance with the Rosenwald Fund specifications and named Panama City High School.

The building served the black community in Panama City as an elementary and high school, and in 1939 graduated its first class of three students. By that year, the school had been renamed in honor of Julius Rosenwald to avoid an identity conflict with the all-white Panama City High School. Enrollment increased to 125 students by 1944. The school continued to grow, and served grades 1 through 12 until a new junior-senior high school was built. Land for the new school was purchased in 1950, and the building was dedicated in 1951. The school was relocated to this campus, and the Rosenwald name was transferred to it. African American students were educated on this site from 1952 to 1967. Many students graduated and went on to further their education. The desegregation of public schools in Bay County began in 1966. Rosenwald was a middle school serving grades 6 through 8 from 1967 to 2009, and then became an alternative high school serving grades 9 through 12. Rosenwald and its alumni continue to be a vital part of the community.

A Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2020

Rosenwald High School Marker Side 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 13, 2022

2. Rosenwald High School Marker Side 2

by The Rosenwald High School Alumni Association, and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-1098.)

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 1913.

Location. 30° 9.973′ N, 85° 38.496′ W. Marker is in Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. It is at the intersection of Bay Avenue and East 9th Court, on the left when traveling south on Bay Avenue. Marker is located by Bay Avenue at the front entrance to the school. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 924 Bay Ave, Panama City FL 32401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

Rosenwald High School Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 13, 2022

3. Rosenwald High School Marker

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: Wilson’s Bros. Barber Shop (approx. half a mile away); Barnes Cleaners (approx. half a mile away); Triumph Church (approx. half a mile away); St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Charlie’s Time (approx. half a mile away); Lee’s Gulf Service Station (approx. half a mile away); Russ Shoe Shop (approx. 0.6 miles away); Lincoln Theater/KofP Hall (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Panama City.

Also see . . . Rosenwald High School. (Submitted on February 21, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Rosenwald High School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, February 13, 2022

4. Rosenwald High School

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 4,158 times since then and 294 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 21, 2022, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.