08:28 AM CST on Monday, January 23, 2006

From Galveston County Daily News Staff Reports

GALVESTON — Although Black History Month comes annually in February, preserving and providing access to historical information about Galveston’s black community is a daily occurrence at the Rosenberg Library’s Galveston and Texas History Center.

The Center’s Bert Armstead Papers comprise a significant source of church history.

Armstead (1950-1989) served as historian of Galveston’s Avenue L Baptist Church, which traces its origin to 1840.

A graduate of Central High School, he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Texas Southern University.

His papers, from 1923 to 1989, consist primarily of historical subject files about Avenue L Baptist Church, as well as printed matter relating to the church and various African-American individuals and institutions.

Dr. Leon A. Morgan’s papers, 1954 to 1978, reflect his role as an educator.

Dr. Morgan (circa 1909-1993) became principal of Central High School in 1947 and served as acting superintendent of Galveston Independent School District in 1974.

His papers concern his administrative involvement with the Galveston Independent School District, 1960-1977. They also document his service with the board of directors of Lone Star Drama Association, 1980-1983, and Moody House, 1978-1980, as well as his work with the Old Central Cultural Center, 1968-1979.

The Rosenberg Library also has the Alfreda Houston Papers, 1969 to 2005. These record her many civic contributions, including her work with St. Vincent’s House, the Galveston Housing Authority and the Episcopal Church.

Her papers feature printed matter of various organizations, as well as marriage announcements and funeral programs for local African-American citizens.

Records of W.K. Hebert & Company, Funeral Directors, contain a wealth of genealogical data. These include 14 interment registers, 1919-1968. Staff indexing of them has proceeded through 1940. The collection includes one box of records of the Rosewood Cemetery Association, 1912 to 1956.

Photographs provide another avenue for studying Galveston’s African-American community.

The Gus Allen Collection documents the life and activities of Allen (1905-1988), a civic leader and businessman.

The Leon A. Morgan Collection includes portraits of Central High School’s graduating classes, 1931 to 1947, and images of students and the school’s sports activities.

The Avenue L Baptist Church Collection, which consists of photographs separated from Bert Armstead’s papers, includes exterior views (one postcard view is dated 1917), interior views, photographs of church events and portraits of past preachers.

The Galveston and Texas History Center also has available on microfilm a selection of locally published African-American newspapers.

These include the City Times, 1900-1924 and 1927 and Galveston New Idea, 1904-1908 and 1920.

The newspapers reported local events, including Juneteenth celebrations, and ran advertisements for black-owned businesses.

Details

Materials relating to African Americans in Galveston are available for public research at the Rosenberg Library and Texas History Center.

The Texas History Centers hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The center is on the third floor of Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Ave.

For information, call Casey Edward Greene, head of special collections, (409) 763-8854, Ext. 117.