Samuel Walker Houston
Encyclopedia
Samuel Walker Houston was a prominent African-American pioneer in the field of education. He was born into slavery
on February 12, 1864, in Huntsville, Texas
, to Joshua Houston, a slave owned by Sam Houston
.
Houston founded the Galilee Community School in 1907, which later became known as the Houstonian Normal and Industrial Institute, in Walker County
. In 1930, Houston's school was consolidated into the Huntsville Independent School District
. Samuel W. Houston was named supervising principal over nine Walker County schools, including the Samuel W. Houston High School for black students.
In 1995, on the grounds of the old Samuel W. Houston Elementary School, the Huntsville Independent School District
, along with the Huntsville Arts Commission and the high school's Ex-Students Association, commissioned artists Larry Zink and Monica Taylor to create The Dreamers
, a monument to underscore the contributions made by the black community in the growth and development of Huntsville and Walker County.
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
on February 12, 1864, in Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,508 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area....
, to Joshua Houston, a slave owned by Sam Houston
Sam Houston
Samuel Houston, known as Sam Houston , was a 19th-century American statesman, politician, and soldier. He was born in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, of Scots-Irish descent. Houston became a key figure in the history of Texas and was elected as the first and third President of...
.
Houston founded the Galilee Community School in 1907, which later became known as the Houstonian Normal and Industrial Institute, in Walker County
Walker County, Texas
Walker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 67,861. Its county seat is Huntsville.Initially, Walker County was named for Robert J. Walker, a legislator from Mississippi who introduced into the United States Congress the resolution to annex Texas...
. In 1930, Houston's school was consolidated into the Huntsville Independent School District
Huntsville Independent School District
Huntsville Independent School District is a public school district based in the Hawkins Administration Building in Huntsville, Texas .In addition to Huntsville, the district serves the city of Riverside as well as rural areas in central Walker County. The current Superintendent is Dr...
. Samuel W. Houston was named supervising principal over nine Walker County schools, including the Samuel W. Houston High School for black students.
In 1995, on the grounds of the old Samuel W. Houston Elementary School, the Huntsville Independent School District
Huntsville Independent School District
Huntsville Independent School District is a public school district based in the Hawkins Administration Building in Huntsville, Texas .In addition to Huntsville, the district serves the city of Riverside as well as rural areas in central Walker County. The current Superintendent is Dr...
, along with the Huntsville Arts Commission and the high school's Ex-Students Association, commissioned artists Larry Zink and Monica Taylor to create The Dreamers
The Dreamers (sculpture)
The Dreamers is a sculpture crafted by artists Larry Zink and Monica Taylor, designed to underscore contributions made by the black community.Completed in 1995, the sculpture stands on the grounds of the Samuel W...
, a monument to underscore the contributions made by the black community in the growth and development of Huntsville and Walker County.