Beacons of Light: The Education of the Afro-Texan
Coles
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Click to enlarge image Corpus Christi History - Solomon Melvin
Coles (1844-1924) ... Solomon Melvin Coles
(1844-1924). Solomon Coles was born a slave. ...
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Solomon Melvin Coles
" Solomon Melvin Coles " Books
SOLOMON COLES (1844-1924) AND SOLOMON COLES SCHOOL A FORMER SLAVE ...
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| (1844-1924) AND SOLOMON COLES SCHOOL A FORMER SLAVE,
SOLOMON MELVIN COLES WAS BORN IN PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA. BEFORE THE CIVIL
WAR, A SHERIFF DISOBEYED THE LAW BY TEACHING COLES TO READ. HE WORKED HIS
WAY THROUGH COLLEGE BEGINNING AT GUILFORD INSTITUTE, CONNECTICUT, AS THE
FIRST BLACK STUDENT. HE EARNED A BACHELOR’S AND A MASTER’S DEGREE AT
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PENNSYLVANIA, AND A BACHELOR OF DIVINITY AT YALE. HE
ORGANIZED THE NAZARENE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FIRST BLACK
CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, BEFORE COMING TO TEXAS IN
1877.
ORDAINED IN GOLIAD, TEXAS, HE BEGAN PREACHING IN CORPUS CHRISTI AND
TEACHING BLACK STUDENTS WHO ONLY ATTENDED SCHOOL TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
IN 1878, BELIEVING EDUCATION ESSENTIAL TO BLACK CHILDREN, COLES GAVE UP
THE MINISTRY TO TEACH AND SERVE AS PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL IN THE 500
BLOCK OF N. CARANCAHUA. THE SCHOOL MOVED IN 1893 TO THIS SITE AND WAS
KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC FREE SCHOOL FOR COLORED. THE EXISTING BUILDING WAS A
CONVERTED BROOM FACTORY. THE FOLLOWING YEAR COLES MOVED TO SAN ANTONIO
WHERE HE TAUGHT UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT IN 1914. IN 1925 THIS STUCTURE WHICH
SERVED AS A HIGH SCHOOL WAS BUILT AND NAMED FOR COLES. IN 1973 IT BECAME
SOLOMON M. COLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
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