Austin History Center Stages Black History Month Exhibit

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin History Center is commemorating Black History Month with an exhibit featuring more than 600 photographs from the early to mid-20th century depicting local agrarian life during segregation — the first time the pictures have been publicly shown.

The images were recorded by Negro Extension Service program photographers, showing candid snapshots of people partaking in various agriculture activities no longer practiced along with other activities. Titled
"Clearing Stones and Sowing Seeds," the exhibit yields a portal in the rarely seen illustrations of daily life in segregated Austin with the photos' subjects engaged in the daily, often arduous, tasks of yesteryear — animal husbandry, crafts, domestic education, gardening, agriculture and home improvement.

History center officials explain the photos depict the early days after the Texas Legislature assigned administration of the Texas Agricultural Extension to Texas A&M University and established the Cooperative Extension Program administered by Prairie View A&M University.

But sadly, this area of daily life — like all others prior to desegregation — required an alternative version accessible to black residents. Because of such segregated practices, African Americans were served through the Negro Extension Service program.

"Programming included farm demonstrations, which provided instruction about crop and livestock production, and home demonstrations, which taught skills such as proper canning techniques and home repairs," Austin History Center officials explained. "Youth were served through 4-H clubs."

Above photo: Teacher holding a microphone while standing next to a table and an American flag, with a group of students behind her. They are in a covered, open-air auditorium, and trees are visible in the background.

The 600-plus photos in the collection were taken between 1940 and 1964 sow the breadth of human activity by local residents during the Jim Crow era. But were it not for the efforts of the Austin History Center's first African American Community Archivist, Karen Riles, the photos may have never seen the light. The photos showing African American rural life were rescued by Riles after they were discovered thrown in the trash.

Especially well-documented in the photographic collection are scenes from the annual Food & Livestock Show staged at Rosewood Park.

Photo above shows a woman standing with a beef calf while holding a ribbon that reads "Grand Champion Beef Calf" during the annual Travis County Food and Livestock Show staged at Rosewood Park. A note on the back of the photo indicates that the woman is "Miss Hau." Doris Miller Auditorium is visible in the background.

The entire collection is available for viewing any time during the Center’s open hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. through April. The Austin History Center is located at 810 Guadalupe St. An inventory of the collection is available online. Also, 267 images from the collection have been digitized and are available online as well.

>>> Photos via Austin History Center