During the latter half of the 19th century and throughout much of the 20th century, the education system in the United States was less than adequate for black Americans. In many instances, a formal education was not available at all.

As a result, several private initiatives took off in the late 19th century and carried forward into modern times. Those programs provided an opportunity where there previously had been none. One such opportunity that touched hundreds of communities was the Anna T. Jeanes school funding program named for its generous founder, Anna T. Jeanes.

The Jeanes schools were, at least in Baldwin County, institutions that were constructed from funds provided by the Rosenwald program. And, in turn, the teachers were provided through the Jeanes fund. The Rosenwald program, initiated by Julius Rosenwald the former president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, provided funds to build thousands of schools, shops and teachers' homes primarily for the benefit of black students and their teachers. Before the fund was completely depleted in 1948, it provided more than $70 million toward its goal.

While the Rosenwald fund provided money for the educational infrastructure, the Jeanes program sought to place educators with black students who exhibited the greatest need. Originator Anna T. Jeanes, a Quaker from Philadelphia, began the program at the turn of the 20th century with a $1 million contribution aimed primarily at the rural South.

At that time, the availability of education to blacks was poor to nonexistent in many areas. The foundation established by Jeanes became known as the Negro Rural School Fund and it lasted until 1936. The money associated with the fund was invested in governmental bonds, which were normally very secure. Unfortunately the Great Depression took its toll on the American economy, as it did throughout the world, and as interest rates fell the fund dwindled.

The Jeanes fund aided black students immensely as it provided qualified teachers. In addition to early black schools suffering from a lack of money, most black teachers were paid less than their white counterparts. And in general, most Jeanes teachers were black women because white communities felt less threatened by female black educators.

Initially Jeanes teachers had to teach in one-room schoolhouses or hold classes in churches. The school year lasted only about seven months because of the help needed during harvest in the fall and planting in the spring. The early focus of the Jeanes instructors was on vocational education and improving the school facilities. Later, Jeanes programs taught more liberal arts to produce a better rounded student. J

eanes teachers made quite an impression on those in their classroom. By 1914, there were almost 120 Jeanes teachers throughout the South. That number rose to 510 by 1952. Jeanes supervisors and teachers had to assume multiple duties to ensure student education and to raise funds to maintain the school. Ultimately, the Jeanes programs remained in place until the 1960s when desegregation began to be a reality throughout the country.

In Baldwin County, the former Anna T. Jeanes School currently serves as the Baldwin County Alternative School, located in the unincorporated northern Point Clear community. When it was operated as the Jeanes School, the facility served as one of the “feeder” schools for the Baldwin County Training School. Students who attended this particular school did so through the eighth grade before moving on to the Training School.