The Florida Humanities Council granted the UCF History Department a $4,360 grant to assist the Jones High School Historical Society with archiving their museum and collections.
Located near downtown Orlando, the high school and was founded in 1882 and was originally a segregated high school. Historically black high schools throughout Central Florida faced closures and were repurposed for non-educational uses. Thanks to continuous support from the local community and alumni, Jones High School is one of the few that have remained open.
In 1996, alumni from Jones High School formed the Jones High School Historical Society and dedicated themselves to preserving the school’s rich history. The organization opened a museum on the school’s campus that also displays local African American history in the Orlando area.
Today, UCF History, RICHES and the Jones High School Historical Society are collaborating to create The Jones High School Museum Online Exhibit. The joint project aims to preserve the history of the institution by creating an digital exhibit that can be accessed globally. UCF undergraduate students and volunteers from the museum have already digitized oral histories, photos and videos that will be available once the website is live.
The Florida Humanity’s Council grant will fund further web and graphic development for the project. The Jones High School Museum Online Exhibit will be available to the public in late 2018.