Allen Quinn Jones was born on March 3, 1893, in Quincy, Florida, the sixth of seven children. A. Quinn Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical College in 1915, ranking highest in his class. After graduating, he taught at rural schools in Gadsden, Liberty and Jackson counties. He became the principal of Public School #44, a Pensacola elementary school, and then transferred to Washington High School in Pensacola, where in addition to teaching English, math and science, he served as assistant principal.

In 1921 “Prof” Jones, as he was referred to by his students, accepted a position as principal of the Union Academy in Gainesville, Florida. Two years later, he became the inaugural principal of Lincoln High School when it opened in 1923 with grades one through eleven. With the belief that his graduates should receive full high school diplomas, “Prof” Jones, prepared the school for its next step — full accreditation from the State of Florida.

After years of work, Lincoln High School became fully accredited in 1926, only the second African-American high school in the state of Florida to qualify for this distinction. Accredited diplomas gave graduates the credentials they needed for full acceptance at colleges and universities.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to education, a historic site marker was obtained in 2009 from the State of Florida for the A. Quinn Jones home. A few months later, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior listed the home in the National Register of Historic Places, one of the highest honors given for historically significant people.

“I never dreamed that this type of thing would happen to him," said Oliver Jones on his father’s house being listed in the National Register of Historic Places. "But I’m truly proud that it did.”