Conroe Normal And Industrial College
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Conroe Normal and Industrial College (1903–1981) was a private co-educational
vocational school A vocational school (alternatively known as a trade school, or technical school), is a type of educational institution, which, depending on the country, may refer to either secondary education#List of tech ed skills, secondary or post-secondar ...
and normal school for African American students, founded in 1903 in
Conroe, Texas Conroe is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Texas, Montgomery County, Texas, United States, about north of Houston. It is a principal city in the metropolitan area. As of 2024, the population was 114,581. Since 2007, t ...
, United States. The school also went by the names Conroe Baptist Theological Institute, and Conroe College.


History

Conroe Normal and Industrial College was established in April 1903, by founding president Jimmie Johnson. Johnson fundraised for the formation of the school through extensive travel within Texas and lecturing; he solicited for funds from black churches, black associations, and black conventions. Johnson and his wife were among the small number of early teachers at the school in the early years. David Abner Jr. took over as the second president. William A. Johnson served as the third president. It was on 10th Street. Its five-story main building burned in 1915 and a new two-story building constructed for it. The school had a lot of land, approximately 105 acres which was an active farm that students worked on tending livestock, growing crops, and indoor domestic work. Boys and girls were taught at the school separately, and were required to wear uniforms. In the 1980s, the school was one of the organizational locations for the "Free Clarence Brandley" movement. In October 2014, the Conroe Baptist Theological Institute deeded the remaining 20-plus acre campus to a private investor.


Presidents


Archives and legacy

UTSA Libraries has a 1947 photograph of Baptist ministers in front of the school. TCU Libraries have a collection of photographs, interviews, and documents about the school. In 2017, Robin Navarro Montgomery and the Montgomery County Historical Commission were working on adding a state historical marker to the 10th Street location. In 2021, plans were announced to restore the one remaining college building into a youth community center.


See also

* Guadalupe College


References

{{Reflist Conroe, Texas Historically black universities and colleges in Texas Historically segregated African-American schools in Texas Universities and colleges established in 1903