Scarce Black Texas History
An Historical Outline of the Negro in Travis County
Publication: Austin, TX: Samuel Huston College, 1940. First Edition.
Notes: "One of the first written records of African American life in Austin by a black Austinite.... a work of extraordinary importance."
Written by members of a Negro history class at Austin's historically Black Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson University), this book sets out to use documents and personal interviews to reveal "the fine part that the Negro has played in the development of Austin and Travis County." The teacher of the class, the historian and folklorist, J. Mason Brewer, writes in his introduction that it was "imperative that the Negro collect and preserve those phases of his life which form his background."
The students interviewed a number of county residents with memories back to the slavery era, and they profile nearly two dozen leading citizens, including several women, with an emphasis on education, the church, and professionals.
Brewer (1896–1975) was the leading historian of his time of African Americans in Texas; he also wrote often about Black Texas folklore.
80 pages. Illustrated with half-tone photographs. Foreword by J. Frank Dobie.
Opening quote source: End of Austin academic blog.
Edition + Condition: First edition (first printing). A near fine copy in the original red printed wrappers.
Item No: #366403
Price: $1,250