National Register Record for (OLD) DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL

Historic Name: (OLD) DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL
Current Name: SAME
Address: 600 N HIGH AVENUE
City: OKLAHOMA CITY            County: OKLAHOMA
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: (OLD) DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL WAS OKLAHOMA CITYS ONLY ALL-BLACK HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE PERIOD OF SEGREGATION. CONSTRUCTION ON THE FACILITY BEGAN IN 1910, WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS KNOWN AS LOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND IT SERVED WHITE STUDENTS ONLY. IN 1933, THE SCHOOL WAS DESIGNATED AS A SEGREGATED SCHOOL FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE AREA. THE NAME WAS CHANGED IN 1934 TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS, THE NAME OF THE FACILITY WOULD CHANGE SEVERAL MORE TIMES. IN 1975, THE SCHOOL BECAME A COMMUNITY CENTER. IT ULTIMATELY CLOSED IN 1993. THIS SCHOOL IS DEEPLY TIED TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN OKLAHOMA CITY. THE FIRST BLACK HIGH SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, DOUGLASS BECAME OF THE LEADING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE REGION, RECEIVING NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ITS GRADUATES. LISTED IN NATIONAL REGISTER 4/24/2007.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: EDUCATION: SCHOOL
Current Function: WORK IN PROGRESS
Area of Significance 1: EDUCATION
Area of Significance 2: ETHNIC HISTORY: AFRICAN AMERICAN
Architectural Style: CLASSICAL REVIVAL
Architect: LAYTON, SMITH & HAWK; LAYTON, HICKS & FORSYTH; SOREY, HILL, AND SOREY -- ARCHITECTS
Year Built: 1910, 1919, 1934            Original Site: YES
Condition: FAIR
Restricted: N
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: JUNE 2006