
ABOUT US
Our Organization
The Douglassaires Association, established in 1976, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of Douglass School through annual reunions, community service, and educational initiatives. Our organization provides a range of programs, including a robust scholarship fund, to support the continued growth and success of future generations.
Powered by the Westside Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, the Douglassaires Association works to honor the rich history of Douglass School while promoting education, community engagement, and cultural heritage. Together, we strive to ensure that the values of education and unity continue to inspire and empower our community.
Our Mission Statement
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The Douglassaires Association is committed to honoring the rich history of Douglass School and its vibrant community. We strive to promote diversity, inclusion, and support for all individuals, fostering a strong educational and social environment. Our mission is to create lasting legacies that celebrate the achievements, wisdom, talent, and success of Douglass School's faculty, students, and alumni. We are dedicated to supporting a range of programs and initiatives that preserve and celebrate the school’s history. Together, we aim to strengthen our community, inspire future generations, and uphold the values that make Douglassaires Association cornerstone of education and unity.
Douglass School - Built in 1912; Desegregation Began in 1956; Last Classes in 1971; Sold in 1971; Fully Razed by 2012
1976 1st Douglassaires Reunion Board & Committee


Our History



Douglass School was founded in 1907, the same year as Oklahoma’s statehood. The School provided an essential function to African American residents of the Bartlesville area and served as the single publicly funded Black school in the city for nearly fifty years.
By 1933, Douglass School had all 12 grades and was offering a broad curriculum that included vocational programs, speech and debate classes, a student council, a journalism class and a glee club known as the Douglassaires. Douglass School also featured successful sports team and student clubs. The Dragons, who sported the school’s official colors, purple and white, represented the school in football, basketball, and track. The High Steppers, the school’s marching band, often led homecoming parades through downtown Bartlesville, playing the school song, “The Eyes of Douglass”.
Douglass' first high school graduate was Bessie Love in 1927. The entire school's enrollment reached 189 in 1935, and the Douglass P.T.A. was founded in 1938. In 1949, Douglass graduated 24 students, which was the largest class in the school’s history.
As the Bartlesville School District began desegregation in 1956, Douglass shrunk its class sizes and enrollment before closing in 1971. For years only an original part of the building remained. It housed the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) thrift store, sheltered workshop, and community integrated employment office. In May 2005 ARC changed its name to EmployAbility In May 2012, the gymnasium was fully razed .
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Though Douglass School’s doors closed, its spirit endures. Since 1976, the Douglassaires—named after the school’s celebrated Glee Club—have ensured its legacy lives on by hosting all-school reunions initially every 3 years, now held every two years. These gatherings bring alumni and their families together to celebrate the memories of their beloved school and the values it instilled: resilience, pride, and community.
While Douglass School’s physical structures may be gone, its legacy continues to inspire, reflecting the unbreakable bond between the past and the future.
Although the school no longer exists, its memory lives on in Bartlesville’s community, among former students including their family and friends.
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For more information visit:
https://www.bps-ok.org/page/douglass
https://wccbartlesville.org/douglassaires
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