History of Coleman Academy
Oliver L. Coleman began the education of Blacks in the Palestine Baptist Church at Gibsland in 1887, beginning with eight students in grades 1-8. Coleman College, called “the first black institution of higher learning in North Louisiana,” opened in 1890. It drew support from local Baptist churches, but ultimately much of the funding came from the American Baptist Home Missions Societies of Chicago, Boston, and New York.
By 1916 Negro Education lists enrollment as 274—42 secondary, the rest in elementary—taught by 12 teachers. Coleman had a traditional college prep curriculum: four years each of English, mathematics and bible study; three years each of Latin and history; two years of physics; and one year each of education, psychology, physiology. Ms. Blow adds music and chemistry to that list. Coleman trained teachers, using the elementary school for practice teaching.
Oliver L. Coleman began the education of Blacks in the Palestine Baptist Church at Gibsland in 1887, beginning with eight students in grades 1-8. Coleman College, called “the first black institution of higher learning in North Louisiana,” opened in 1890. It drew support from local Baptist churches, but ultimately much of the funding came from the American Baptist Home Missions Societies of Chicago, Boston, and New York.
By 1916 Negro Education lists enrollment as 274—42 secondary, the rest in elementary—taught by 12 teachers. Coleman had a traditional college prep curriculum: four years each of English, mathematics and bible study; three years each of Latin and history; two years of physics; and one year each of education, psychology, physiology. Ms. Blow adds music and chemistry to that list. Coleman trained teachers, using the elementary school for practice teaching.