St. John Orphanage and Industrial Institute
historical marker
The St. John Orphanage and Industrial Institute, in Austin, Travis County, Texas, served as a vital institution for African American children. Established by the St. John Regular Missionary Baptist Association, it was led by Reverend Lee Lewis Campbell. The association acquired 306 acres north of downtown Austin for this orphans' home and school, the first African American orphanage in Texas. The main building, completed in 1909, was rebuilt in 1910 by architect John Andrewartha after a fire. The institute provided education from first grade through college, covering academic, industrial, and agricultural subjects. It also hosted large annual summer encampments, drawing thousands, with Booker T. Washington speaking in 1911. The orphanage and school closed in 1942, affected by the Great Depression. The main building burned in 1956. In 2011, the Austin Community College District purchased the property for its Highland Campus, returning the land to educational use. This historical marker was erected in 2019. The site marks a significant effort in African American community development and education in Central Texas.