OUR HISTORY
Over the decades, Laurinburg Institute evolved from a trade-focused school into a boarding, college-preparatory academy, famously relocating its buildings “brick by brick” in the 1950s. Read and learn more about our story!
Founded by Emmanuel and Tinny McDuffie at the invitation of Booker T. Washington and William J. Edwards.
By 1915, enrollment rose above 110 students; by 1932, the campus boasted 14 buildings, nearly 700 students, and 27 teachers, reflecting significant growth.
After the Supreme Court banned segregation, state efforts to convert Laurinburg to a public school were resisted. The McDuffie family relocated the campus “brick by brick,” then rebuilt it as a private boarding preparatory school.
Centennial and beyond: Celebrated its 120th anniversary in September 2024 while planning to reintroduce vocational offerings like IT, HVAC, drone tech, and green cleaning in its programs .
2004- Present
1990
1954–1956
1920
1915–1932
1909
1904
1900
At the turn of the 20th century, North Carolina was rigidly segregated, offering few opportunities for African Americans. Communities in the state enforced this system through intimidation and violence, including acts of terrorism like the 1898 Wilmington Massacre.
Visited by Booker T. Washington, who toured the campus and delivered public addresses, bolstering the school’s reputation and community support.
Boarding introduced: The school added residential facilities, extending its reach beyond day students.
Leadership transition: Following the passing of Frank Sr. and Sammie McDuffie in the mid‑1990s, their son Frank Jr. and his wife Cynthia assumed leadership roles, continuing the McDuffie family legacy .
Our Rich History
Laurinburg Institute is located on one of the highest points in Laurinburg, NC. The campus comprises 55 acres. The school is located 100 miles from major cities in North Carolina. In the early 1900’s, Scotland County, located in the southeastern part of North Carolina, did not have a school for “colored” beyond the primary grades. So the Black citizens wrote Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee Institute to send someone to start a school. Not having anyone at Tuskegee at the time, he contacted Mr. J William Edwards at Snow Hill Institute, and Emmanuel and Tinny McDuffie answered the call. They walked from Alabama to North Carolina and started the school on September 15, 1904. They started the school with 15 cents in the treasury. The first student to enroll was a girl. At this time, vocational education, home economics, agriculture, brick masonry, plastering, automobile mechanics, and printing were the school subjects. The school continued to thrive with well over 1000 students in spite of little state funding. Teachers received a small stipend. In 1954, with the Brown vs the Board of Education decision, the school almost closed. It was at this time that the school changed its emphasis from vocational to academic, and a year beyond the 12th grade, called postgraduate, was added. It was also, at this time, that Emmanuel’s son Frank and his wife, Sammie, took over the leadership of the school at the passing of Emmanuel McDuffie, Sr.
A Legacy of Success
Discover some of our outstanding alumni and their successful careers.
WORKING TOGETHER IS KEY TO GROWING IN COMMUNITY
The Laurinburg Institute-
Snow Hill Institute Connection
The Laurinburg Institute-Snow Hill Institute connection dates to April 29, 1902, when W.P. Evans, a well-to-do Black businessman, wrote Booker T. Washington, requesting an able person to assist in the education of Laurinburg’s considerable African American population. When no help came from those quarters, Snow Hill Institute provided Emmanuel and Tinny McDuffie, recent graduates and newly married, to start a school similar to Snow Hill in North Carolina in 1904. Laurinburg’s charter states: “Students are taught self-reliance, race pride, independent manhood, and womanhood. They are encouraged to remain at their homes in the South, to buy land, to assist their fathers and mothers, and to educate their fellows.”
