Organized in 1898 under the Christian leadership of A. W. Tate and Newton Baptist Church, the school’s property was later given to the Baptists of southeast Alabama and adopted by nine Baptist Associations. In 1907 the Baptist State Convention agreed to accept the school as a gift and received the deed in 1908, and financial support by the Convention began in 1912. It operated as a high school and junior college from 1921 to 1929, when it closed due to lack of funds. Presidents serving from 1917 to 1929 were J. J. Yarborough, L. F. Rutledge, W. G. Johnston, J. A. Lowry, A. C. Anderson, R. W. Langham, C. V. Cheves, P. W. Lett, and C. H. Turner. Its students brought its Christian influence into all walks of life.