James E. Guinn School

After Fort Worth public schools were organized in the fall of 1882, black students continued to be taught in black churches for more than a year. The city completed a schoolhouse for blacks on E. 9th Street at Elm in December 1883. The son of a former slave, James Elvis Guinn was born in Fort Worth. Though neither of them could read nor write, his parents placed a great value on education, and James attended Fort Worth's early schools for blacks. He later pursued a college degree and became a professor of chemistry at Prairie View College, now Prairie View A&M University. Guinn returned to Fort Worth as principal of South Side Colored School in 1900. Construction of a new three-story brick school building, designed by the prominent architectural firm of Sanguinet and Staats, began at the corner of Louisiana and Rosedale Avenues in April 1917. Shortly before its completion, Guinn died on July 11, 1917. Six days later the school board voted to name the new school building James E. Guinn School in his honor. It was the largest black school in Fort Worth in 1930. After sixty-three years of service it, it was closed in 1980. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986.

James E. Guinn School is a historical marker in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, dedicated in 1986. It is one of 358 historical markers documented in Tarrant County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 501 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.7328, -97.3215 near Fort Worth. The nearest cataloged historic site is Baker Funeral Home (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Our Mother of Mercy School, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and Saint Joseph Hospital.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5439002720. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.