Frederick Douglass School (Key West) Explained

Frederick Douglass School was a school for African American children in Key West's^[1] Bahama Village neighborhood.^[2]

History

It opened in 1870. William Middleton Artrell (died 1903), who also served on Key West's city council in 1875 and 1876, headed the school. He was a temperance advocate, and also worked at Stanton Institute in Jacksonville.

The school was expanded with buildings for Douglass Jr. High School and Douglass High School. Prior to the high school being built in the 1920s, African American students had to travel outside Key West for educational opportunities beyond the 8th grade.^[3]

Mildred Shaver was the school's principal in the early 20th century.^[4]

What is now the College of the Florida Keys held its first classes when it opened in 1965 at the former Douglass High School building.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Clayton Lopez recalls segregation in Key West. January 24, 2020. Florida Keys Weekly Newspapers.
2. Web site: Key West The Newspaper - Key West's Black Community Fighting for Survival -. April 8, 2016. Key West The Newspaper.
3. Book: Key West. Norma Jean. Sawyer. LaVerne. Wells-Bowie. July 13, 2002. Arcadia Publishing. 9780738506845. Google Books.
4. Book: McCarthy, Kevin M.. African American Sites in Florida. July 24, 2019. Rowman & Littlefield. 9781561649518. Google Books.
5. Web site: History of CFK.