Florida Memorial College began as Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida in 1879, created to be "a College of instruction for our ministers and children." In April 1892, racial tensions resulted in shots fired into one of the school’s buildings. In response, many of the teachers and students relocated to Jacksonville under the name Florida Baptist Academy. 

For the crime of being White women teaching Black students, three nuns were arrested.

Two of the Sisters pleaded guilty and were immediately released from jail. However, one Sister maintained her innocence and remained in jail until her bond was secured. Teaching in private Black schools was halted during the legal proceedings.

Supreme Court allows segregation laws, coining the infamous 'separate but equal' myth.