Accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, the $1 million school was opened at 3920 Troy Highway in 1962, and offered trade courses to white students.
The Alabama State Board of Education renamed the school John M. Patterson Technical College in 1974.
[3][5][6] In 1963, the passage of a three-bill act under then-Governor George Wallace transferred control of two-year schools from the state of Alabama to the governor.
Named after former president of Alabama State University Dr. Harper Councill Trenholm, the college was constructed on 35 acres (0.14 km2) of land at 1225 Air Base Boulevard.
Also accredited by the Council on Occupational Education, the $1.25 million college was completed in 1966, and offered trade courses to black students.
The proposed merger was met with debate, because the colleges had been culturally shaped by the social tensions of American segregation and integration since their beginnings.
[3][10] Trenholm operates under four divisions: Academic, Allied Health, Career/Technical Education and Workforce Development.