Sabine Normal and Industrial Institute
| Sabine Normal and Industrial Institute | |
|---|---|
 | |
Saline Road, Converse, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| Information | |
| Former name | Sabine Industrial Institute (1918–1928) |
| Type | Black Private (1903–1917) Black Public (1917–1928) |
| Established | November 2, 1903 |
| Founder | Robert Edward Jacobs |
| Closed | 1928 |
Sabine Normal and Industrial Institute (1903–1928) was a normal school and vocational school for African American students in Converse, Louisiana.[1] It was also known as Sabine Industrial Institute.
History
The African American neighborhood in Converse, Louisiana was known as Babsoline.[2][3] The first Black school in Converse was established by W. B. Purvis.[4]
The Sabine Normal and Industrial Institute was founded on November 2, 1903 by professor Robert Edward Jacobs (May 22, 1877–February 17, 1917).[3][4][5][6] Jacobs was a graduate from Coleman College.[7] After Jacobs died in 1917, S. B. Belton served as the principal.[6]
The land for the school campus was donated by the Black community of Converse.[1] The campus of the school was once physically surrounded by the Saline Baptist Church, however the church was not a part of the school.[1]
The school offered classes in teacher training, blacksmithing, vocational agriculture, domestic science, and wheelwrighting.[8] M. L. (Mary Lee) Jacobs, Jacobs' wife and a fellow Coleman grad, taught domestic science. Lillie Mae Baddie taught music, and A. J. Jones taught agriculture.[4][5]
In 1918, The school was turned over to the Sabine Parish School Board and the school name was changed to Sabine Industrial Institute.[4] It closed in 1928.[4] A historical marker commemorates the school's history.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Miller, Robin (February 13, 2005). "A Dream Came True: Converse Women Seek To Preserve Legacy of Early African–American School". The Town Talk. pp. E1, E7. Retrieved 2025-08-03 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Southern Studies. Southern Studies Institute, Northwestern State University. 1997.
- ^ a b Teal, Rolonda (September 2011). "The Community of Saline". Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), Center for Regional Heritage Research. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Teal, Rolonda; Tripp, Jaclyn (December 30, 2024). "This Northwest Louisiana village has connection to Liberia". KTAL. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Hicks, William (1915). "Prof. R. E. Jacobs". History of Louisiana Negro Baptists from 1804 to 1914. Nashville, Tennessee: National Baptist Publishing Board. pp. 90–93 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Principal of Sabine Normal Passes Away". The Times (Obituary). February 19, 1917. p. 2. Retrieved August 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tripp, Jaclyn; Joiner, Dr Gary (December 24, 2024). "Coleman College: First African American college in North Louisiana".
- ^ "Notice To Colored Patrons Sabine Normal and Industrial Institute". The Mansfield Enterprise. September 12, 1918. p. 5. Retrieved August 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Historical Markers". Toledo Bend Lake Country.
External links
- Image of faculty at Sabine Normal