Sarah Ann Blocker

Sarah Ann Blocker (October 27, 1857 – April 15, 1944) was an American educator and co-founder of Florida Memorial College, one of Florida's oldest HBCU. She was renowned for her leadership role as a teacher and administrator, playing a central role in expanding educational opportunities for African American students. Blocker was also inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 2003.

Early life

Blocker earned her teaching certificate at the University of Atlanta in 1883.[1]

Career

Blocker taught at Florida Baptist Academy from 1892,[2] and was head of the normal department there.[3] Blocker is credited with co-founding Florida Memorial College by arranging the merger of Florida Baptist Institute and Florida Baptist Academy, to form the Florida Memorial and Industrial Memorial Institute.[1][4] Blocker served as both Dean of Women and vice president at the institute by 1935.[5] One of her students at Florida Baptist Academy was philanthropist Eartha M. M. White.[6] Another was author Zora Neale Hurston.

Personal life and legacy

Sarah Ann Blocker died in 1944, aged 86 years.[1] She was originally buried on the Florida Memorial's St. Augustine campus alongside fellow co-founder and president, Nathan W. Collier.[7] In 2003, Sarah Ann Blocker was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame by Governor Jeb Bush.[1] The following year, she received a posthumous honorary doctorate as part of the 125th-anniversary celebration at Florida Memorial University.[8] The university honors her legacy by naming one of its building Sarah A. Blocker Hall.[9] She is also commemorated, alongside other key figures of the institution, through the Collier-Blocker-Puryear Park.[10] Additionally, there is a Sarah A. Blocker Meritorious Service Award given annually by Florida Memorial University.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Michael Reed, "Sarah Ann Blocker Inducted into State's Women's Hall of Fame" Archived 2017-02-17 at the Wayback Machine St. Augustine Record (November 18, 2003).
  2. ^ Florida Memorial University, Our History Archived 2014-09-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ John William Gibson, The Colored American from Slavery to Honorable Citizenship (J. L. Nichols 1903): 122.
  4. ^ Carole Elizabeth Boyce Davies, ed., Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora (ABC-CLIO, 2008): 446. ISBN 9781851097050
  5. ^ "Florida Normal Retains High Rating by Southern Association" Pittsburgh Courier (January 12, 1935): 2. via Newspapers.com
  6. ^ "Founders Honored at Florida Normal" News Tribune (June 2, 1957): 14. via Newspapers.com
  7. ^ Lane, Marcia (December 9, 2012). "Early leaders of Florida Memorial University honored". St. Augustine Record. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17.
  8. ^ Florida Commission on the Status of Women, Sarah Ann Blocker Archived 2016-01-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ^ "Center for Academic Resources and Support – Florida Memorial University". www.fmu.edu. Archived from the original on 2025-07-03. Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  10. ^ Koth, Cheyenne. "Florida Memorial College | Visit St. Augustine". www.visitstaugustine.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-17.
  11. ^ Florida Memorial University, Traditions Archived 2017-02-06 at the Wayback Machine.
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