Class of Douglass School in 1912

The image shows students of the class of 1912 and their teachers in front of Douglass School in El Paso, Texas, in their Sunday best. At that time, African Americans were building a strong community despite city turmoil (the Mexican Revolution brought several fractions of Mexican revolutionaries to El Paso). However, African Americans established several churches and the Douglass student body increased. Douglass School was organized by black families in 1883. It added a high school program in the 1890s. In 1920, the School moved to its current location on Eucalyptus Street. The school became both a place to learn and a social center for black families until El Paso public schools were desegregated in 1956. The School was named after Frederick Douglass (1817-1895), who escaped slavery and devoted his life to the abolition movement and black rights in the United States.

Area: Central / South Central

Source: C.L. Sonnichsen Special Collections, University of Texas at El Paso Library. Collection Name: Leona Washington Photograph Collection. Photo ID: PH033-1-11-2.jpg.

Uploaded by: UTEP Library Special Collections