Lincoln Institute Revisited

By William Clayton Evans

This book traces the story of the only all-Black boarding high school in Kentucky, using historical fact as well as creative non-fiction and fictional elements. The school was established because of segregation and the passage of the Day Law in Kentucky in 1904. It follows the experiences of the fictional main character, Bobby Edwards and gives a view of how the students held it and its teachers in great esteem.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Dec 13, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456742966

William Clayton Evans

This is the second book by the author, William Clayton Evans; the first was entitled “Lincoln Institute Revisited”. He resides in Versailles, Kentucky.

Book preview

© 2011 William Clayton Evans. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/27/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4297-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4296-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011903915

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Cover silhouette by iclipart.com—Vital imagery Ltd.

61 Dunedin Drive

Brussels, Ont

Creativity by William Evans

All photos by William Evans

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11 The Freshman Dance

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Postscript:

Bibliography

Legal Cases

News Paper Articles

The Shelby Record

The Shelby Sentinel

The Sentinel News

List of African American (Colored) High Schools in Kentucky, 1950*

This book is dedicated to all the Lincoln Institute alumni, teachers, and staff.

Thanks to Mrs. Gwen Curry for all of her help and inspiration.

Our deepest thanks to Berea College

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2

From the time of its forced birth, due to the demands for a segregated society, Lincoln Institute began to die. It felt the pangs of birth, the trials and tribulations of growth, and in its time, withered as the flowers of the field and the grass. By its own circumstances and definition, it could not last. It was not meant to last forever-but to stand as a beacon on a hill representing the dichotomy of man’s inhumanity and humanity to man.

Chapter 1

The question comes to mind. Why, write a book about Lincoln Institute? The answer takes several forms.

1. While there exists a small body of information about Lincoln Institute, there is little or no information on what it was like to attend school at the institute and the activities presented.

2. To bring the current and future generations of Blacks and Whites the valuable history of the institution in the development of racial and educational co-existence in Kentucky. Also to show that great sacrifices were made by our fore-parents both Black and white to gain the educational opportunities we have today. Hopefully, by knowing this, some students might take every advantage of obtaining an education. Then open the doors to others in job seeking and career choices.

3. To enlighten the latter generations of Lincolnites, who attended the institute without really knowing its historical place in educational annals. This will let them know they too, were a part of that history; to take pride in it, because the project was a success.

Lincolnites, are scattered throughout the United States. By looking back at our Lincoln education it might serve as a guide to help remedy some of the present day problems. Some novel ideas might be developed of what does and does not work in educating Afro-Americans.

4. If for no other reason, to immortalize the memories of Lincoln Institute of Kentucky.

img10.jpg

Chapter 2

Lincoln Institute is located on Highway US 60 near Simpsonville, Kentucky. It is some twelve miles west of Shelbyville, Kentucky in Shelby County. It is eighteen miles east of Louisville and two miles from the Jefferson County line, in which Louisville-Kentucky’s largest city is located.

The property is contingent and parallel to the highway. However, the main body of the campus sets one mile back from the highway. From the entrance on US 60, you can see the road as it runs straight up to Berea Hall-the main administration building. The building seems to center the road. There are two low depressions in the road going up to Berea Hall. The road branches to the right and the left forming a circle in front of Berea Hall. Other roads extend off the main road at the top of the hill. Looking South from US 60, about a third of the way down the road sets the mail building, (first depression) as you cross the Louisville and Nashville Railroad tracks. Here the railroad runs right through the property on its front side, usually with trains going from