Jarvis Christian College

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and here's how I'm gonna pass it along to you. Back in 1904, the Texas Negro Disciples of Christ joined forces with the Christian Women's Board of Missions, the CWBM, to do something that needed doing: establish a school for Black youth in Texas. Now, that's the seed of the story, but seeds need soil, and the soil came a few years later.

In 1910, Ida and J. J. Jarvis of Fort Worth donated a 456-acre tract of land.

Four hundred and fifty-six acres. The CWBM went ahead and purchased another 182 adjoining acres on top of that, and by 1912, a campus had been created right here in Wood County. Then in 1913, Jarvis Christian Institute opened its doors.

Twelve elementary students walked through them. Twelve. You might be tempted to call that a modest beginning, and you'd be right, but modest beginnings have a way of building into something else entirely.

High school courses followed in 1914. Junior college came along in 1927. Senior college in 1937.

And in 1950, full accreditation, the kind of recognition that says to the whole wide world: this place is the real thing. It always was. Jarvis Christian College remains affiliated with the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, to this day, and that 1904 partnership is still at the root of every single thing that grew from it.

What the marker says

In 1904 the Texas Negro Disciples of Christ joined with the Christian Women's Board of Missions (CWBM) to establish a school for Black youth. A campus, consisting of a 456-acre tract donated by Ida and J. J. Jarvis of Fort Worth in 1910 and 182 adjoining acres purchased by the CWBM, was created here in 1912. Jarvis Christian Institute opened in 1913 with 12 elementary students. It added courses for high school in 1914, junior college in 1927, senior college in 1937, and gained full accreditation in 1950. It remains affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). (1993)