Manual Training High School's Beginning

In 1909, the manual training educational system sweeping across America was ten years old. Following the new state's declaration for separate education for Oklahoma youths, Muskogee floated a bond proposal. Muskogee's Manual Training High School was a product of these twin drives.

The purpose of a manual system of education was to teach children in grades six to twelve to use their hands. In this manner, educators believed students would stay in school longer. It was also felt they would be better prepared for the industrial world when they left school. Muskogee's school was the second one constructed in the state for African Americans, after Oklahoma City.

Muskogee's bond in 1909 funded the construction of three schools. In mid-February, C. W. Briles and C. W. Dawson went to Missouri and Illinois schools to get ideas for the construction of the new school buildings. Briles was Muskogee's school superintendent while Dawson was an architect. All three schools were ready for use when schools opened in the fall of 1910.

About $75,000 went to purchasing the land and building Muskogee's Manual Training High School. The building and mechanicals cost $70,000. The balance purchased a trapezoidal one-acre lot across the street from the new Dunbar elementary school. Money also purchased playground equipment.

The building's two stories sat atop a full basement. It had a parapet around the front that added stature to the buildings yellow brick exterior. This touch of grandeur promoted a sense of pride among the students and faculty that lasted a century.

Manual Training High School educated 138 students in grades nine through twelve during 1916. Two-thirds were girls. Furthermore, its classrooms taught another 285 pupils in one class of the sixth grade and all of the seventh and eighth grades.

There were nineteen classrooms in the building. Four teachers taught the students below the ninth grade. Eight full-time and two part-time teachers taught the high school pupils. C. B. Bryant served as the school principal. The music teacher was Leanna C. Clark. The rest of the teachers were Elizabeth S. Brown, Lucy M. Elliott, Nellie W. Greene, M. Johnson-Jones, S. S. McCulloch, Julia E. Nickens, A. C. Perdue, Florence Pickens, Alma Ross, Susan A. Sharpe, W. O. Sneed, Myrtle Williams and S. E. Williams.

The high school students had two choices in their course of study. Eighty-seven pupils chose the general course that year. There were the basic classes of English, history, math and science taught to all students. Students often chose to take Latin during their last three years. The school's library was considered excellent for its day.

The manual training curriculum served boys and girls differently. The girls alternated sewing classes with cooking classes.

The boys in the industrial courses studied woodworking and mechanical drawing. Their classes were three double periods each week.

The Manual Training High School increased the emphasis on African American education in Muskogee County. The growth in student population caused the enlargement of the school building, first in 1922 and again in 1929. Additional buildings housing classrooms and vocational workspace came later, but the last addition in 1929 defined the main high school building until it closed in 1970.