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Black History Month
February 1-28, 2010
Texarkana:
People
Places
Progress
Lt.Col. Woodrow Crockett, USAF Ret.
Texarkana Biographies:
Lt. Col. Woody Crockett and the Tuskegee Airmen
Former Texarkanian, Lt. Colonel Woodrow "Woody" Crocket joined the Army in 1940 and made the military his lifelong career. In 1942, he became an aviation cadet with the army, long before the Air Force existed as as its own military branch. During World War II he served as a Tuskegee Airman. During his long military career, Lt. Col. Crockett learned much and is always willing to share his knowledge with others. Click the photo at left or the link below to learn more.
Crockett (link opens in a new window)
Lois Towles, circa 1944. Click on photo to enlarge
Concert Pianist Lois Towles
Lois Towles was born and raised in Texarkana and went on to impress audiences on the concert stage world wide.
One of eight children, Miss Towles was born in 1913 and grew up in Texarkana, Texas. She was a gifted concert pianist who traveled and performed worldwide. Her studies included work at the American School at the Fountainbleau in Paris under Nadia Boulanger and, after having her heard her play, Miss Towles was invited by Arthur Rubenstein to study with him. She was on faculty at Fisk University where she obtained her Masters degree.
Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Towles performed in Europe and across the U.S. A 1949 edition of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times included an article on Towles' skill at the piano and "manner of commanding the ocnert stage." In 1953, BoxOffice Magazine reported on Towles' return to the States after a "triumphant tour of Europe."
Lois Towles died in 1983 at the age of 1970, but her legacy lives on.
Click HERE to read the 1949 article.
Jamison Building
The Jamison Building Today
This Texas State Landmark was built in 1930 to serve the African-American business community of Texarkana. The project was founded by Dr. G.U. Jamison, sr.; Dr. W.T. Thompson and A. Weatherford. Committee memebers included Civil Rights legend A. Maceo Smith.
The building was designed by the firm of Witt, Seibert and Halsey and was constructed by the construction company of G.L. Brooks, a local African-American contractor. The design combines the simple commercial style found here with striking Art Deco details in the decorative use of brick.
Architect's rendering of the Jamison Building
This structure is two stories with five suites and five individual offices located on the upper floor along with a 200 seat hall used for community functions, concerts , etc. The lower floor was divided into 6 business spaces and at one time housed a barber shop, drug store, watchmaker and shoe store.
The upperfloor suites were often used by African-American physicians and dentists such as Drs. Jamison and Thompson, but also housed local attorneys, realtors (such as Maceo Smith), and other professionals.
Please turn the page for more about this historic site.
Detail of West entrance in Art Deco style.
When the building opened in 1930, it was a community event that included the Texas-side mayor and representatives from most major businesses. This site was added to the Texas Landmarks register in 1991.
To learm more about this building, you may download a pdf copy of the original opening program HERE.
West upper floor windows.
The Jamison Building is one of many historic topics that will be featured here during Black History Month. Please check back later for more articles and downloadable media to explore African-American history in Texarkana.
Dr. G.U. Jamison, Jr.
Pioneer African-American Physician
Tape 1, side 1
Tape 1, side 2
Tape 2, side 1
Mrs. Juanita Banks Secrease
Early Texarkana Educator and Community leader
Tape 1
Mrs. Helen Miller
Pioneer Texarkanian
Clip describing Town Well
Clyde Washington, Sr.
Clip describing use of a corn sheller
In Their Own Words
The collections of the Texarkana Museums System include hundreds of recorded interviews with local citiziens. Efforts to collect oral histories began in 1973 and continues today.
Many of these histories explore daily life in this region from the 1890s through the Great Depression Era. Some discuss social and political topics. All provide a glimpse into the day to day lives of those interviewed.
To the left you will find a list of interviews with African-American Texarkanians from differing backgrounds and professions. Click on a link to hear the interview.
Please note that these files are not edited for quality nor content. We present these digital copies of the original analog recordings unaltered.
Click HERE to download a copy of the
1937 Annual Directory of the Negro Business League
Antonio Maceo Smith
Civil Rights legend A. Maceo Smith was born in Texarkana in 1903 to Howell and Winnie Smith. He grew up on the Texas side and, after graduation, attended Fisk University. He later earned his MBA at New York University and attended graduate classes at Columbia University. While in New York, he owned an ad agency.
Returning to Texarkana, he and parnter William Daniels opened a successful real estate business. This business at one time had offices in the historic Jamison Building. In 1932, Smith moved to Dallas.
Within a year of arriving in Dallas, Smith became the first executive secretary of the Dallas Negro Chamber of Commerce and later participated in the formation of the Texas State Negro Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Urban League Texas State Progressive Voters League and others.
Smith is most remembered for his activities as a member of the NAACP. His participation in the organization's leadership led to such civila rights legal actions as Smith vs. Allwright and Sweatt vs. Painter. He was an important part of the peaceful desegregation of Dallas area schools.
Maceo Smith died in 1977 after a lifetime of service to the community .
The Texarkana Museums System invites you to join us in celebrating Black History Month, 2010
In honor of Black History Month, TMS offers a series of online articles, exhibits and downloadable media exploring the African-American community in Texarkana, USA. Explrore historic sites and National Register properties in Texarkana . Learn more about the cities' former citizens, such as Scott Joplin, who went on to impact the region, the nation and the world. Click the lower right corner to get started. More content will be added all month!
Click lower right corner of book to turn the page.
theTexarkana Museums System
P.O. Box 2343
Texarkana, Texas 75504
903-793-4831
www.texarkanamuseums.org
www.exhibitsonline.org
ABOUT TMS
The Texarkana Museums System is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that owns and operates three historic sites in downtown Texarkana, USA. TMS was founded in 1971 by the Texarkana Historical Society.
The Three Museums of TMS:
Museum of Regional History: 219 State Line Ave
Discovery Place Children's Museum: 215 Pine
Ace of Clubs House: 420 Pine
Hours:
Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.*
*Ace of Clubs House tours stop at 3:00 p.m.
Contact:
texarkanamuseums_cableone.net
