Southland College, originally the Helena Orphan Asylum and eventually Southland Institute, was established in Helena, Arkansas for orphaned African American children^[1] April 19, 1864 by Indiana Quakers Alida^[2] and Calvin Clark and supported by various Quakers over several decades.^[3][1][4] Established as an orphanage called the Helena Orphan Asylum within Helena,^[4] the original request for the creation of an orphanage had come from General N. B. Buford who was the Federal Commandant at Helena during the civil war.^[5]

In 1866, it was relocated further north in Phillips County, almost 4 miles east of Lexa, Arkansas.^[4][6] Each officer and private soldier of the 56th U.S. Colored Infantry, at the suggestion of Colonel Carl "Charles" Bentzoni, donated a days pay so that the new site could be purchased for the college.^[6] Not long after an additional adjoining fifty acres was purchased by the Quakers to expand the site of the college.^[5] Over the subsequent years the site was expanded to around 167 acres.^[5]

In 1876, twelve years after its inception, it became Southland College and began to issue diplomas.^[5] The first three students to obtain their diplomas were Chandler Paschal, Emma Lancaster and Jerry Cross.^[5]

Although created for black children it was not until 1880 that the college employed its first black teachers, who were alumni of the college.^[5]

An official from the school sued E. A. Fulton and editor Julian T. Bailey^[7] of The Sun newspaper in Little Rock^[8] for libel in 1885.^[9]

George W. Bell was one of those who served as its president as well as a professor,^[10] and had been a student at Southland himself before going on to graduate from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.^[11]

Over the years of the college, hundreds graduated as teachers including Anna String who after graduating in 1903 had a career that included her becoming president of the Arkansas State Teachers Association as well as receiving many honors.^[4] At its height in 1917 the enrolment had reached 500 students,^[4] although in its final year of 1925 that had shrunk to 130.^[11]

It closed in 1925 after several name changes and ongoing financial problems.^[4] After the closure by the Quakers, the college was briefly run by the Masons and then the AME Zions.^[5]

A series of private and parochial schools for African Americans succeeded it in Helena including a Peabody School and St. Cyprian's Day School.^[12]