Holy Rosary Institute

Contents

The Holy Rosary Institute is a historic school building located at 421 Carmel Drive in Lafayette, Louisiana, United States. It is one of the few remaining historic Black Catholic high school buildings in the United States.[1][2]

History

The original Greek Revival building, now surrounded by other modern school buildings, was founded in 1913 by Reverend Philip Keller and the Sisters of the Holy Family.

The institute was initially built in order to provide vocational and technical education for black females. It also served as a Normal School to train teachers for rural black schools. In 1947, it became a co-ed facility. Enrollment began to decline in the 1960s and in 1974, the boarding facilities were closed.[3]

The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 3, 1980.[4]

The school was closed in 1993.

Holy Rosary Redevelopment

In 2020 the Holy Rosary Redevelopment Corporation broke ground to restore a historic part of the city's black community. With $4.5 million in state funding and 450.000 from the National Park Service they embarked on a three- phase project to revitalize the former Holy Rosary Institute.[5]

2026 The Northeast Regional Library will officially be named for civil rights leader and longtime Xavier University President Norman C. Francis. The library is a key component of the broader Holy Rosary Redevelopment initiative which will expand services in technology, education, community, and library services in North Lafayette. The library is expected to open in 2028 near Holy Rosary Institute.[6]

References

  1. 1."Holy Rosary Institute" (PDF). State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation. Retrieved July 4, 2018. with three photos and two maps
  2. 2.Rev. James A. Pawlicki (July 1980). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination Form: Holy Rosary Institute". National Park Service. Retrieved July 4, 2018. With two photos from 1980.
  3. 3.Hernandez, Don (2009). "The History of Holy Rosary Institute". LSU. doi:10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.2742. S2CID 164749095. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  4. 4."National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  5. 5.Capps, Andrew. "Holy Rosary board breaks ground on building's repair, 40-acre redevelopment plan". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved August 9, 2026.
  6. 6.Askelson, Kristin (July 8, 2026). "Lafayette's new library will honor civil rights icon Norman Francis. Here's why". The Advocate. Retrieved August 9, 2026.