Lincoln High School was a prestigious African American school in Fort Smith from 1892-1966.

FORT SMITH, Ark.— Lincoln High School, Fort Smith’s historic African American school, will be having a reunion at the Fort Smith Convention Center, August 30-September 1, 2024. Registration includes a Meet & Greet, an Alumni Award Banquet, a picnic, numerous speakers, and stories shared by former Lincoln students and teachers. This reunion, hosted by the Lincoln Alumni Association, takes place every two years. 

Lincoln High School graduated its first class in 1892 when nine graduates were handed their diplomas by Judge Isaac Parker. Lincoln closed in 1966 after Fort Smith’s schools were racially integrated and was demolished thereafter. A monument designed by a former Lincoln student now stands in its place near 9th Street and N Street in Fort Smith. While the building no longer exists, Lincoln High School is an important part of Fort Smith history. It is a source of great pride within the Black community in and around Fort Smith, as Black students were bused in to attend Lincoln from as far away as Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

Over 75 years of existence, Lincoln maintained a reputation for having high academic and behavioral standards and top-notch teachers, administrators, and staff who made a deep impact on the lives of more than 6000 students. In 1980, Lawrence Tidwell organized the Lincoln Alumni Association to honor Lincoln High School and its legacy. The Association consists of “Lincolnites”– anyone who ever attended the high school. 

“It has blossomed into a very prominent, very respected association,” said event organizer Paula Releford. “What is happening, and the reason this particular reunion is so important, is because we have lost numerous ‘Lincolnites’ in recent years. And now, most of our young people, their parents never went to Lincoln,” Releford said. “I didn’t even go to Lincoln. So, we want to familiarize young people with the rich history of Lincoln High School, so the story carries on, so the history isn’t forgotten.” 


Media Contacts:

Paula Releford | 479.650.0189 | paulareleford@gmail.com

Sherry Tolliver | 479.420.1162 | stoliv@gmail.com