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Jonas Henderson High School

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Jonas Henderson High School
Location
Anderson Street,
New Iberia, Iberia Parish, Louisiana,
United States
Information
Former nameNew Iberia Colored High School
School typeBlack public high school
OpenedJanuary 9, 1950
ClosedJune 1969[1]
PrincipalJ.B. Henderson
Succeeded byNew Iberia Freshman High School[1]

Jonas Henderson High School (1950–1969), was a public high school for African American students in New Iberia, Louisiana, United States, during a time of racial segregation.[2][3]

History

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The school was opened on January 9, 1950, on Anderson Street, and was planned to be named New Iberia Colored High School.[3][4] At the time of opening the name was changed to "Jonas Henderson High School" to honor local teacher, Jonas Henderson Sr. (1890–1933) who taught at Howe Institute (c. 1893 to 1933), a former private African American Baptist school.[1][5] The principal at Jonas Henderson High School was J.B. Henderson (or John Berry Henderson; 1913–2006), the son of the school namesake.[3]

Jonas Henderson High School remained on Anderson Street until the educational program expanded and became too large for its present facilities.[6] In 1967 the new Jonas Henderson High School campus was opened on Jefferson Island Road.

The last graduating class was in c. June 1969, and in July 1969 the school district announced its closure.[7] After the school closure in August 1969, a group of Black students protested and marched back to the former campus; they were met by police with tear gas, an event which made national news.[8][9] Iberia Parish became integrated in September 1969, and the Jonas Henderson High School campus became known as New Iberia Freshman High School (or Freshman High School),[1] and later known as Westgate High School.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Fairclough, Adam (2009-06-30). A Class of Their Own: Black Teachers in the Segregated South. Harvard University Press. p. 403. ISBN 978-0-674-03666-6.
  2. ^ New Iberia: Essays on the Town and Its People. Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana. 1986. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-940984-31-8.
  3. ^ a b c "Jonas Henderson High School, New Iberia". African American High Schools in Louisiana Before 1970. 2018-07-27.
  4. ^ Vernon, Matt (1950-02-01). "Talk of the Teche". The Daily Iberian. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  5. ^ Williams, Mildred (1979). The Jeanes Story: A Chapter in the History of American Education, 1908–1968. Jackson, MS: Jackson State University. p. 45.
  6. ^ American Gas Journal. Vol. 192. American Gas Light Journal, Inc. December 1965. p. 58.
  7. ^ "Iberia Board Announces School Plan". The Daily Advertiser. 1969-07-19. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Negro Pupils, Police Clash in Louisiana". Chicago Tribune. August 29, 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Duffy, Mike (August 28, 1969). "Marshals Help Negro Teachers Break Barriers". Ledger-Enquirer. p. 28. Retrieved 2024-02-18 – via Newspapers.com.
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