History of Adair Normal School in Whitesboro, Texas

Published: 1952

Updated: November 1, 1994

Adair Normal School was a private school in Whitesboro, west central Grayson County. In 1894 C. L. and Noah Adair leased the building that previously was the home of the Shilow Baptist Institute. The two-story facility, constructed in 1889 at the corner of Main and College streets, housed the Adair Normal School for two years. During that time the Adairs attempted to establish a college-level academic institution. Enrollment and financial problems, however, led to the closing of the school in 1896.

Grayson County Frontier Village, History of Grayson County, Texas (2 vols., Winston-Salem, North Carolina: Hunter, 1979, 1981). Graham Landrum and Allen Smith, Grayson County (Fort Worth, 1960; 2d ed., Fort Worth: Historical Publishers, 1967).

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Late Nineteenth-Century Texas

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The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry.

David Minor, “Adair Normal School,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed April 11, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/adair-normal-school.

TID: KBA03

Original Publication Date:: 1952
Most Recent Revision Date:: November 1, 1994

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Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Texans have a unique opportunity to reflect on the state’s role in the American story. Through exhibitions, programs, educational initiatives, and community events across Texas, Texas America250 encourages celebration, reflection, and commemoration at both local and statewide levels. At the Texas State Historical Association, we are proud to support this important moment through our mission-driven work in history education and public engagement, including Texas History Day, and we invite students, educators, and communities to explore this milestone in meaningful ways.

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On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the history of the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Long may these ideals live in the heart of every Texan and every American. May God bless all who have defended our freedoms that we enjoy each day. And God bless the United States of America.

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History of Adair Normal School in Whitesboro, Texas

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