The African American Experience in Louisiana

Scotlandville campus in 1914. One pre-existing plantation building and five university buildings
from the 1920s were determined to be contributing elements of the Southern University Historic
District when it was listed on the National Register in 1999 (Figure 69). One of the contributing
buildings, the machine shop, has since been removed, but the others remain in good condition.
Xavier was founded in New Orleans in 1915, and reincarnated at a new campus in 1932. It is
significant as the continent’s first and only historically black Catholic university. The campus
retains three historic building from the 1930s (Figure 70). Dillard University, into which
Straight and New Orleans universities merged, was chartered in 1930 and has ten historic
buildings dating from the 1930s to the 1950s (Figure 71).
Figure 70: Xavier University, New Orleans, Orleans Parish.
Figure 71: Dillard University, New Orleans, Orleans Parish.
Robinson Business College in Monroe
opened in 19444 in the private residence
of its founders. In 1946, it moved into a
single building that is now listed on the
National Register (Figure 72). While the
above mentioned institutions were
focused in New Orleans and Baton
Rouge, Robinson Business College is
significant for providing a higher
education opportunity to African
Americans in the Monroe area.
Figure 72: Robinson Business College, Monroe, Ouachita Parish.
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