A historically black junior college in Palatka, Florida (1960–1966) established to provide segregated higher education.
Collier-Blocker Junior College opened in 1960 in response to the Brown v. Board of Education decision, as Florida's legislature sought to maintain a segregated higher education system by establishing new junior colleges for African American students. The college was named after Nathan W. Collier and Sara Blocker, educators who had helped establish Florida Normal and Industrial College (now Florida Memorial University) in 1918. Initially housed in an abandoned church building across from Black Central Academy High School, the college moved to its own building in 1961.
The college's curriculum was limited to college-parallel studies designed to prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions. It struggled with low enrollment and governance challenges from the outset, with almost all faculty serving as moonlighting high school teachers. The distinction between high school and college operations was unclear, and the institution lacked resources for a guidance center. The 1964 graduating class was the last, with only 12 graduates.
Collier-Blocker was among the least successful of Florida's twelve black junior colleges, with the lowest enrollment and shortest institutional life. After the 1964 graduating class, the college was placed under the supervision of St. Johns River Junior College, and the presidency was abolished. It operated as the Collier-Blocker Center until complete closure in 1966. The building now houses the Robert Jenkins, Jr., Middle School.
In 2012, St. Johns River State College created a memorial wall with portraits and mementos of Collier-Blocker, honoring its brief but significant role in providing access to higher education for African American students in Northeast Florida during the segregation era.