Collins Institute of Stonewall
| Collins Institute of Stonewall | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1854 |
| Opened | 1854 |
| Closed | 1917 |
| Building Style | Dormitory Style |
| Location | Stonewall, Ponotoc County, Oklahoma |
| Alternate Names |
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History
History as Manual Training School for Chickasaw Boys & Collins Institute
After the Civil War the Chickasaw were in need of rebuilding many of their schools that had been demolished or damaged by war. Collins Institute was established largely through the efforts of Rev H Colbert, and Judson Collins, both of whom were prominent members of the Chickasaw Legislature, with the sanction of Governor. The building used as the Superintendent's cottage and the music building, plus 100 acres of land were bought from B Frank Byrd (a prominent Chickasaw and Treasurer of the Nation). During these first 3 years the school was known as a Manual Training School for Chickasaw Boys and maintained 50% by Southern Methodist church and 50% by the Chickasaw Legislature. Before the Civil War the school was known as Colbert Institute and burned. After being rebuilt it became known as the Collins Institute.
At the close of Methodist occupation in 1890, the Institute was taken over fully by the Chickasaw and a boarding school for girls was established. It remained under the Chickasaws until statehood in 1906. During this period Mr A R Waite was named superintendent and the dormitory attendance increased to 45 pupils.
The school offered a girls and a boys basketball team, industrial department, home economics, English, arithmetic, history, botany, music, drawing, Latin, zoology, agriculture, geography, manners, civics. The school taught 1st through 12th grades.
After statehood the school became under Federal control and continued operations as a girls only boarding school for Chickasaw children.
History as Collins Institute: Government School for Chickasaw Girls
By October 1906 the Federal government had taken full control of the Collins Institute, teaching grades 1st through 12th for Chickasaw girls only. Students were taught English, Algebra, History, Sewing, Botany, Zoology, and Music among other subjects. Girls also played sports as the school had a basketball team - however they had no transportation for the students and therefore the team never played against any other school despite their hopes.
