About Draughons
In 1879, Professor John F. Draughon realized the need for business-trained people. With very little capital, a horse, a wagon and the teaching materials that were available at that time, he founded Draughon's Practical Business College on wheels. He made a monthly circuit of towns in Northern Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky for several years before opening his permanent school in Nashville.
From this humble beginning of his business college on wheels, he started one of the largest chains of business colleges in the nation. His business schools were located in practically every Southern and Western state, including the Oklahoma territory and the Indian territory. At the time of his death in 1921, 38 business schools bore his name. He also established the Draughon‘s Textbook Publishing Company in Nashville, which published all textbooks used in his schools, with the exception of shorthand.
After Professor Draughon‘s death in 1921, many of the business schools he established merged with other schools or went out of business. Draughon‘s Business College in Nashville survived the depression and World War II. After the war, under new management, Draughon's Business College again assumed its role in the community to train secretaries, accountants and other qualified business personnel.
In 1954, the School was accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Business Schools, which was recognized by the United States Office of
Education as the accrediting agency for this type of school. In 1978, Draughons was accredited as a junior college of business by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools.
Draughons Business College was located on 8th Avenue North, between Broad and Commerce streets for more than 100 years of its existence. Construction of the facility at 340 Plus Park Boulevard was started in November, 1980, and classes began there on August 3, 1981. As Nashville enters its third century, Draughons Junior College is proud to enter its second century of training students to serve the business and technical community of Middle Tennessee, the state, and the nation.
Draughons Junior College established a branch campus in Clarksville, Tennessee during the summer of 1987, and classes began there on September 14, 1987. The Clarksville branch is located in facilities at 1860 Wilma Rudolph Boulevard.
Draughons Junior College established its second branch campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky, during the winter of 1988. The Bowling Green branch is located at 2421 Fitzgerald Industrial Drive.
In November 2001, Draughons Junior College – Clinton Learning Site opened for the primary purpose of providing job retraining for dislocated workers in far western Kentucky. Although originally thought of as a temporary site, Clinton Learning Site remains open to serve the needs of nontraditional and traditional students in west and northwest Kentucky. Clinton Learning Site offers diplomas in computers, medical office, and medical assisting which can be completed in three terms over a 12 month period, allowing those in need to reenter the job market as quickly as possible with marketable job skills. The Clinton Learning Site is located at 101 South Washington Street.
In August 2003, Draughons Junior College – Hopkinsville Learning Site opened with the purpose of providing educational opportunities for the spouses and families of military personnel from Fort Campbell. Hopkinsville learning Site is available to anyone seeking job skills in an accelerated environment in the areas of medical office, medical assisting or general computer skills. Diploma programs can be completed in a 12 month period to allow for rapid entry into the job market. The Hopkinsville Learning Site is located at 2410 Fort Campbell Boulevard, Suites B&C.
Draughons Junior College established its third branch campus in Murfreesboro, Tennessee during the summer of 2003, and classes began September 29, 2003. In January 2005, classes at the Murfreesboro branch began in a newly constructed school located at 415 Golden Bear Court.