New Orleans Center Trained 431 Women to Break Corporate Barriers

The Adult Education Center in New Orleans closed its doors in 1972, but its impact on the local workforce lasted decades. A group of alumni gathered in mid-May for a reunion to discuss the institution that helped them secure white-collar positions during a time of limited opportunity.

The center opened in 1965, one year after the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. Located at Exchange Place in the French Quarter, the school was founded by Father Timothy Gibbons. He sought to prepare Black women for the business world by providing specific vocational training.

Raphael Morgan enrolled at the center in 1970. She finished her high school education that year but could not afford to attend college. She viewed the center as her best path to employment. Morgan paid $40 for books and studied typewriting, shorthand, and job interviewing skills.

Before her training, Morgan faced repeated rejections during job interviews. Interviewers cited her lack of experience in typing and shorthand. She described the situation as a door slamming in her face. Her mother, who had only performed domestic work, felt a deep sense of pride when Morgan was accepted.

Alice Geoffray, a national award-winning teacher, joined the faculty to help with the transition from school to office work. Her son, Jeff Geoffray, noted that his mother was not an activist by trade. She was a seasoned educator trying to support her family. She taught for seven years and developed close relationships with her students.

Jeff Geoffray said his mother believed in the talent of the women she trained. He noted that they were the first African American secretaries in the Deep South. These graduates integrated offices at major companies including Shell, Standard Oil, and Pan-American Life. Some also worked at City Hall.

Morgan completed her training in 1971. She later earned a teaching degree from the University of New Orleans. She worked for the Orleans Parish School Board and served as an insurance adjuster. She considers herself a teacher at heart because of the ability to influence lives.

A total of 431 women graduated from the center. The majority of these graduates were African American. The school served as a critical bridge for women entering the professional workforce in the South.

Jeff Geoffray and his sister Jeanne now run a nonprofit called the 431 Exchange. The organization is named after the number of graduates and the location of the former school. It advocates for equal access to education and provides scholarships for adult learners.

A PBS documentary is in production that will cover the history of the school and the work of the nonprofit. The film is expected to be released in 2027. Morgan said she looks forward to sharing the experience of the graduates with a wider audience.