Lincoln High School - Lincolnian Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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4 LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL HISTORICAL SKETCH OF LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL. COZZETTA KINGSBERRY, ’12. Lincoln High School, it may be said, was founded in 1881, by Mr. E. V. A. Nero, while he was a ward school principal, but a regular High School Department was not established until September, 1887, at which time it was opened in Lincoln Ward School. Mr. Samuel Bailey was at that time principal , of said school. During the prin- cipalship of Mr. Bailey, twenty-five pupils were gradu- ated from the High School Department. In 1889, Pro- fessor G. N. Grisham, who had served as principal of Sumner school for two years, was duly elected the first principal of Lincoln High School, and a beautiful build- ing dedicated to the exclusive use of the High School, was erected in September, .1890, on Eleventh Street west of Lincoln Ward School. Within a few years, the increase in population and other natural causes, made larger quarters necessary. A site was purchased by the Board of Education on the northeast corner of Nineteenth Street and Tracy Avenue, in December, 1899. A magnificent structure, the present home of the High School, easily seen from many points in the city, was duly built thereon, and opened September 10, 1906, with impressive ceremonies of joy on the part of representative and grateful negro citizens and school patrons. The original site was valued at $25,000. Im- provements, including building, furniture, library and other apparatus, bring the valuation to $106,800. The grounds occupy 182.5 feet on Nineteenth Street and 330.50 feet on Tracy Avenue. Twenty-six classes have been graduated from Lincoln High School since it was founded. The total number of graduates is four hundred sixteen (one hundred thirty boys and two hundred eighty-six girls). Of the total number, thirty-one were graduated in the Class of 1912. Among the graduates, one finds teachers, preachers, doc- tors, lawyers, stenographers, civil service employees, etc. Many of the graduates have become valuable citizens of the communities in which they live and are presiding over homes of refinement and culture. A few are continuing their education in various standard colleges, and univer- sities. In short, the greater part of Lincoln High School product, we are happy to say, is making good in some line; thus demonstrating that the education which has been so generously granted, by the municipality, is prac- tical and that Lincoln High School is doing excellent work in training for social efficiency.

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CLASS O CLASS HISTORY. BLANCHE YANCY, T2. Ninety-one girls and boys entered the class room of Lincoln High School, in the fall of 1908 to perform the duties of Freshman. We were happy, light-hearted, guy, willing to do our duty with untiring zeal; and during our first year, we laid an excellent foundation upon which tc erect valuable monuments later on in our educational course. As “Freshies,” we organized a club with Miss Olive Sasportas, teacher of English, as treasurer. The Club was a great success and in many ways very helpful to our class, as it developed unity and other desirable qual- ities. Having completed our first year course. After a happy vacation, we entered as Sophomores. We worked still harder this year, and with Miss Brydie’s assistance, a Sophomore club was organized. After two terms of well fought battles in each department of work, we spent the summer months storing up energy for a fresh attack upon the enemy — ignorance. Returning as Juniors, we studied diligently, always working towards the happy thought, that within a comparatively few months, we were F 19 12 » to become Seniors; and after the enjoyment of another vacation, we again entered school. This time we came as dignified Seniors, and we now had reached one of the important points in our career, indeed, the to;) round of our youthful ambition as students. Just a few of the ninety-one who entered, remain to await the time of graduation; for, each year from one cause or another, some of our comrades have found it necessary to leave the ranks. We who have “ploughed the furrow to the end, ’ have learned to recognize the value of time and we now rejoice. We have finished High School — yet, we are but beginning the battles of real life; and we hope that we shall be as successful in winning future contests as we have been in our class rooms. In our Senior year, four of our number distinguished them- selves as students of Virgil, fourteen have done excellent work in German; the entire number has faithfully studied Pschology, Natural Science, English Literature, and Man- ual Training. For four years, our little fleet has been anchored in a safe harbor, soon we shall weigh anchor and slowly drop down the tide to find a port of entry. A few days more and these clustering sails will be scattered, and each in its own horizon will reach its destined goal.