Jenyethel Merritt, SRJC President

In 1958 when the Florida Division of Community Colleges established North Florida Community College, it also established twelve black community colleges, one of which was Suwannee River Junior College located in Madison. Florida. The college existed from 1959 until 1966 when it merged with North Florida Junior College.

The founding president was James J. Gardener, then principal of Williston Vocational High School in Williston, Florida. Dr. Gardener reported to work in June 1959 with only two months to prepare for the College’s first classes in August 1959. The institution was established on the campus of Madison’s Black senior high school. Inaugural classes were held in the evening. Like NFJC, Suwannee River Junior College initially served five surrounding counties including Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor.

When Dr. Gardener resigned in 1961, Jenyethel Merritt was appointed president. She was the first female president in Florida’s community college system. She remained as president of the institution until Suwannee River merged with NFJC in 1966 at which time she assumed the position of vice president of guided studies.

The curriculum was structured entirely for college transfer students, primarily to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. Except for the development of a secretarial science program, the curriculum showed little change between 1960 and 1965. The first year’s enrollment was 90 students; the second year 170 students enrolled. At one point, during the 1964-65 school year, records show 402 students were enrolled.

Extra-curricular activities included a varsity basketball team, the May Day festival, Miss SRJC, homecoming, benefit recitals, art exhibits, musical performances, The Alligator yearbook, and THE SWANECHO college newspaper.

NFJC and SRJC Merge: After the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in Congress, the Florida Department of Education pressed for consolidation of Suwannee River Junior College and North Florida Junior College. SRJC classes were held for the last time in 1966.