National Register Record for DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Historic Name: DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Current Name: SAME
Address: 1432 NORTHEAST SEVENTH STREET
City: OKLAHOMA CITY            County: OKLAHOMA
Section: 35           Township: 12N           Range: 3W          
Description of significance: DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA IS ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNDER CRITERIA A AND C AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE SCHOOL IS THE ONLY EXTANT “SEPARATE” ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA CITY AND IS A NOTABLE EXAMPLE OF THE CLASSICAL REVIVAL STYLE, DESIGNED BY RENOWNED OKLAHOMA ARCHITECT, SOLOMON A. LAYTON. THE AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCHOOL ARE EDUCATION, BLACK ETHNIC HERITAGE, AND ARCHITECTURE. THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR DUNBAR ELEMENTARY SPANS FROM COMPLETION OF THE ORIGINAL EIGHT ROOMS OF THE SCHOOL IN 1922 TO 1954, WHEN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES (SCOTUS) DECLARED “SEPARATE BUT EQUAL” EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL. ALTHOUGH OKLAHOMA CITY SCHOOLS WERE SLOW TO IMPLEMENT DESEGREGATION, THE SCOTUS RULING MARKED THE TURNING POINT IN SCHOOL DESEGREGATION. LISTED 3/15/2018.

Type: BUILDING
Historic Function: EDUCATION/SCHOOL
Current Function: VACANT/NOT IN USE
Area of Significance 1: EDUCATION; ETHNIC HERITAGE: BLACK
Area of Significance 2: ARCHITECTURE
Architectural Style: LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY REVIVALS/CLASSICAL REVIVAL
Architect: ANDREW SOLOMON LAYTON
Year Built: 1922-1954            Original Site: YES
Condition: GOOD
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 2017