Historical Photos
The Tyrrell Historical Library’s archives contain a breadth of images and documentation of Black history in Southeast Texas, including Beaumont’s early growth at the turn of the century, when many of the city’s Black leaders built its first schools and churches for the community.
The era of segregation is documented – images of signage on buses and in restaurants, a Blacksonly swimming pool, and others.
From within the structure of segregated life, prominent families helped establish thriving hubs of Black life, with markets, theaters, restaurants and more.
Some of those families prospered, and established a generational legacy of upward mobility, which they used to help better the Black community as a whole.
Elmo Willard III and Theodore Johns spearheaded the efforts to desegregate the city, further breaking glass ceilings by running for elected offices, and paving the way for those who would succeed, including Beaumont’s first Black mayor – David Moore, elected in 1994.
kbrent@ beaumontenterprise. com
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