431 Exchange Nonprofit Preserves Legacy of New Orleans School That Trained 431 Black Women for Corporate Roles

The Adult Education Center in New Orleans operated for seven years, from 1965 to 1972, before closing its doors at Exchange Place in the French Quarter. During that period, the institution trained 431 women, the vast majority of whom were African American, in the specific skills required to enter the white-collar workforce.

The center provided instruction in typewriting, shorthand, and job interviewing. These vocational skills allowed graduates to secure positions in major corporate offices that had previously excluded them. Raphael Morgan, who enrolled in 1970 and completed training in 1971, noted that lack of technical proficiency was a primary barrier to employment. She stated that employers frequently rejected candidates who could not type or use shorthand, effectively closing doors to professional advancement.

Morgan paid $40 for books and received comprehensive training that she credited with launching her career. She later earned a teaching degree from the University of New Orleans and worked for the Orleans Parish School Board and as an insurance adjuster. Her classmates integrated offices for companies including Shell, Standard Oil, Pan-American Life, and the New Orleans city hall.

The school was founded in 1965 by Father Timothy Gibbons, who sought experienced educators to bridge the gap between school and office work. He hired Alice Geoffray, a veteran teacher who had recently won a national classroom teacher award. Geoffray taught at the center for seven years. Her son, Jeff Geoffray, said his mother was not a civil rights activist but a teacher focused on survival and feeding her children. He noted that she viewed her students as talented professionals rather than charity cases.

The nonprofit 431 Exchange, named for the school’s total graduate count and its location, was founded by Jeff Geoffray and his sister, Jeanne. The organization advocates for equal and affordable access to education and provides scholarships to adults pursuing higher learning. The group aims to continue the mission of the original center by supporting educational access for adults.

A PBS documentary about the school, its graduates, and the 431 Exchange is expected to be released in 2027. The film will detail the experiences of the women who broke barriers in the Deep South’s corporate offices. The nonprofit maintains a website at 431exchange.org where interested individuals can learn about their work and scholarship opportunities.