Gregory Institute

Melissa Ammerman deeds the one acre property to Richard Allen, Ellias Dibble Sandy Parker William Waff and Peter Noble, who pay her $250 on November 30, 1868, recorded December 1, 1868.¹

Then on December 3, 1868, another deed was recorded which stated that the property “was transferred and conveyed to said parties not as individuals or as copartners but as Trustees although not specified therein for the especial benefit of the colored community for educational purchases to be perpetually used and occupied by said Trustees and their successors as such trustees for educational purposes alone for the especial benefit of the colored community.” The deed conveyed from Allen et al. as individuals to Allen et al. as trustees and their successor trustees.²

Coverage of the dedication of the institute in January 1870 mentions Rev. Mr. Norton (Warren Norton) as the principal. Joseph Welsh of the Freedmen’s Bureau addressed the crowd: “The Institute is beautifully located a short distance from Main street; a skirt of timber is conveniently near for a play ground for the pupils.” Money had been raised to purchase the ground.

See also the coverage of the dedication in the Houston Daily Union, which says that Sandy Parker also spoke.³.

Houston Times, (conservative), January 14, 1870:

Gregory Institute. Mr. Louis W. Stevenson, Assistant Superintendent of Education, informs us that the Gregory Institute (colored,) will be thrown open for inspection on Saturday the 15th inst., between the house of 10 a.m. and 2 p p.m. The dedication service will commence at 2 p.m.

See Freedmens Bureau for more notes about the schools’ early history.

Bill passed in 1870 to incorporate the Institute authorizing Richard Allen, Elias Dibble, and others to organize a school already in existence. Full text.

In May 1870, the Houston Daily Union reported on an upcoming pic-nic and procession to be held by the Institute’s scholars, along with those of the Methodist and Baptist “colored Sunday Schools,” at “the chosen ground, near the Institute.”⁴

Nellie Nickerson was still in control of the school, assisted by Eunice Knapp, in 1871, and was described as sitting “in a prominent position, surrounded by a beautiful, smooth, grassy plain.”⁵

In Fall 1872 the principal was reported to be “Mrs. Gove from Minnesota,” assisted by “Miss Davenport, Miss Marshall, and Miss Gilbert—the two latter colored instructors. The Institute numbers 140 pupils.” But another article mentions the principal the previous spring as Miss Kent.

Local Republican Convention held at the school in October 1873.

Libel case after Henry C. Hardy appointed principal in 1877.

Favorable examination of students in 1878.

In 1884, survey of crowding in Houston schools and need for a high school found GI had ample room, while white schools did not.⁶

In 1889, C. Lombardi involved in the assignmend of “colored teachers,” including Samuel Collins, Henry C. Hardy, and Fairchilds.

In 1892, attendance at the school was around 235, at a time when E. Raphael was Secretary of the School board.⁷

In 1893, the school was moved to the “colored high school” on San Felipe.⁸ The same page reports that the building appeared to be falling down and caused a stampede.

Sold by City to B. D. Dodge in 1903, after being conveyed by Richard Allen to the city.⁹ Later that year, Dodge offered to sell the city “necessary property in Gregory Institute to open Smith street to a connection with Jefferson avenue for $1200.¹⁰