LHS+History

Timeline | Oral History | Original Documents | Objects | Personal Memories | Photography | Research Resources toc =The Early Years= Lincoln High School was founded as Union Academy, a Freedman’s Bureau school, in 1866. In 1921, A. Quinn Jones came to Union Academy as its new principal. Two years later, a new school was constructed at NW 7 Avenue and the entire Union Academy was moved to the new site. The school’s name was officially changed to Lincoln High School. At this new site, Prof. Jones, as he was affectionately called, became determined to make Lincoln High School a premier school for African Americans. He did this by graduating his first graduating class that had attended for twelve years in 1925. He followed up this achievement the next year by attaining accreditation from the State Department of Education. Lincoln was one of only two black high schools in the state to achieve this fete. Lincoln was also authorized by the state to conduct a high school training course as part of its curriculum from 1928-1931. In 1956, a new school was built for Lincoln in response to the Federal Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education that called for an end to segregation. Instead of integrating, the county chose to build an “equal” school for blacks. The new site for Lincoln High School was on SE 12 Street at what is now Lincoln Middle School. The original school is now the A. Quinn Jones Center named after the illustrious principal.

=A New Home= In 1956 a new building was constructed where the current Lincoln Middle School now stands. [ Do you know more about this? Click on EDIT to contribute ]

=Mandatory Desegregation= [ Do you know more about this? Click on EDIT to contribute ]

=Professor A. Quinn Jones= Professor A. Quinn Jones is considered a legendary figure in the founding of Lincoln High School. For more information please visit the Professor A. Quinn Jones page.