Harrison School in Tipton, Missouri, is the last remaining 19th-century school building in Moniteau County built specifically for Black students.
Built after long pressure
The Tipton School District was organised in 1869, after the Civil War. It built two schools in succession for its white students but none for its African American students. Only after considerable pressure, and a public bond levy to raise the money, did the district build Harrison School for African American students, together with a new public high school for white students.
A cornerstone of the community
Built between 1888 and 1890, Harrison School was a cornerstone of Tipton's Black community. For 67 years it was the only way for African American children in Tipton and nearby communities to be educated in a permanent school building. It taught grades one through eight, and from 1936 to 1942 also offered a two-year high school programme.
In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Tipton High School was integrated that year, but the town's Black elementary pupils were not integrated until 1957; once all its public schools were desegregated, Tipton closed Harrison School.
Today
The school is preserved and run by the Opportunity 1888 Foundation, a private foundation started by descendants of Harrison School alumni, which aims to inspire people to value and preserve their own historic journeys and serves as an educational, cultural and civic resource for Tipton's African American history and its ties to the wider community. Harrison School joined the African American Civil Rights Network in 2023.
The African American Civil Rights Network
The Network recognises the African American civil rights movement in the United States and the sacrifices of those who fought discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017 and coordinated by the National Park Service, it tells the stories of the movement's people, places and events through a collection of public and private resources.
Words on this page from people and organisations outside the federal government are paraphrased; rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Sources
- National Park Service, African American Civil Rights Network, "Harrison School (Tipton, Missouri)." https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/harrison-school-tipton-missouri.htm
- Opportunity 1888 Foundation: https://opportunity1888.org/
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.nps.gov
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