Community, Conflict, and Confidence Tricks: Documenting the History of the Nashville Christian Institute 1942-1967
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-25-2024
Abstract
When the Nashville Christian Institute, an African-American church of Christ K-12 school, closed its doors in 1967, Lipscomb’s library inherited the school’s documents. In the spring of 2024, Beaman Library decided to publish these documents in our Carolyn Wilson Digital Collections. Before publishing them, we asked graduates of the school for help with identifying and labeling photos and other significant items. Thanks to the NCI community’s efforts, Beaman Library is now able to present a comprehensive online collection of photos, letters, board meeting minutes, and other documents that tell the history of the school at a pivotal moment in U.S. history as both the nation and the church grappled with issues of racial segregation and integration. Former NCI students have also contributed personal recollections of their experiences at NCI. The documents shed light on the lawsuit legendary civil rights lawyer Fred Gray filed against Lipscomb, the racial history of churches of Christ in Nashville, and the NCI Board’s dealings with the infamous con man Billie Sol Estes.
Recommended Citation
Cohu, Jan and Rutledge, Michaela, "Community, Conflict, and Confidence Tricks: Documenting the History of the Nashville Christian Institute 1942-1967" (2024). Faculty Works. 1.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/beaman_fac/1