Leland College Explained

Leland College
Location:Off Groom Road, about 0.83miles west of Baker
Nearest City:Baker, Louisiana
Coordinates:30.5927°N -91.1814°W
Built:1923
Added:November 10, 1982
Refnum:82000433

Leland College was founded in 1870 as a college for blacks in New Orleans, Louisiana, but was open to all races.[1] After its original buildings burned in 1923, it was relocated near Baker, Louisiana. Never accredited, the school closed in 1960 because of financial difficulties.[2]

The area of the Baker campus, comprising four contributing properties and one non-contributing building, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 1982.[3] [4]

The college facilities had become derelict by the time of listing. In the early 21st century, only the ruins of the two dormitories can be seen faintly through trees. The frame classroom, the president's house, and the concrete classroom all disappeared at some time.

Holbrook Chamberlain, a philanthropist from Brooklyn established the school. He bought the land and built the school buildings. John Elijah Ford served as the school’s president.[5]

Notable alumni

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ebr.lib.la.us/reference/ourafamlegacy/oaal_peopleandplaces/places/LelandCollege.htm Leland College
  2. Web site: Baker's long-gone Leland College was Uptown New Orleans' first university . December 4, 2020 .
  3. Web site: Leland College. State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation . May 9, 2018. with three photos and two maps
  4. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=82000433}} National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form: Leland College]. National Park Service. National Register Staff. October 1981. May 9, 2018. With .
  5. Book: The National Cyclopedia of the Colored Race . Richardson . Clement . 1919 . Google Books.
  6. Web site: John W. Joseph, Opelousas' first black mayor, to be laid to rest tomorrow. 10 November 2017.
  7. Web site: Four-Way Split: Too Many Factions Negate Louisiana Race Vote Power. The Pittsburgh Courier . Newspapers.com . 1959-02-07 . 2022-09-06.