{{Short description|School for African American students in Mobile, Alabama, US}} {{About|the school in Mobile, Alabama|the school in Washington, DC|Emerson Preparatory School}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
'''Emerson Institute''' was a school for African American students in Mobile, Alabama. It was established after the American Civil War in 1865 by the Freedmen's Bureau. It was operated by the American Missionary Association (A.M.A.) and opened in 1866.
==History==
Originally located in the "Blue College" on Government Street, in 1877 it was relocated to 266 Scott Street after a fire.
In 1927 it became a Mobile County public school. According to the historical marker commemorating its history, "Many of its students had careers of local and national distinction." After desegregation, the school closed in 1970 and the buildings demolished as part of an urban renewal program in Mobile. A historical marker commemorates the school's site on Scott Street.<ref name=mark>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=111289|title=Emerson Institute Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org}}</ref>
Tulane University has a photo of a visitor from the A.M.A. with the school's faculty.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:1330|title=Emerson Institute, Mobile, Alabama Faculty 1922-'23 | Tulane University Digital Library|website=digitallibrary.tulane.edu}}</ref> Another photo shows people from the school outside with a dog.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/islandora/object/tulane:2284|title=Emerson Institute, Mobile, Ala , teachers and students | Tulane University Digital Library|website=digitallibrary.tulane.edu}}</ref> A 1909 commencement program is extant and available online.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.archives.alabama.gov/digital/collection/voices/id/13233/|title=Q125167 - Q125175|website=digital.archives.alabama.gov}}</ref> A 1909-10 school catalogue also survives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.umbrasearch.org/catalog/8ac3d97976dfd4d002c8017630aef672c5a27037|title=Catalog of the Emerson Normal and Industrial Institute in Mobile, Alabama.|website=Umbra Search African American History}}</ref> An "illustrated essay" from the school's principal A. T. Burnell with photos and descriptions of the school and its history also survives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.umbrasearch.org/catalog/80f7ad29fd931b290d5795353bca9eabf43ddc30|title="Emerson Normal Institute" by Dr. A. T. Burnell.|website=Umbra Search African American History}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Defunct schools in Alabama Category:Defunct black public schools in the United States that closed when schools were integrated Category:Schools in Mobile, Alabama
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