City Of Fort Worth: Black History Month Spotlight: I.M. Terrell

Dallas TX

04 February, 2022

4:57 PM

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Press release from City of Fort Worth: February 04, 2022 Black History Month, celebrated in February, is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society, including activists, civil rights pioneers, and leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more. In the spirit of that mission, each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the rest of the month, a local Black hero will be featured in hopes that their stories will inspire readers all year long to explore other fascinating change agents. Isaiah Milligan "I.M." Terrell (1859-1931) Educator Isaiah Milligan Terrell, educator, was born on Jan. 3, 1859, near the city of Anderson, Grimes County, Texas. Terrell was the son of Alexander, a blacksmith, and Nancy (Oneil) Terrell and received a private education taught by two missionaries before attending Straight University in New Orleans, where he earned a bachelor of arts and a master of arts degree. In 1881, Terrell was hired as a private school teacher in Anderson, Texas. And a year later, he was selected by Fort Worth's Superintendent of Schools, Alexander Hogg, to head the first free public school for African Americans, called the East Ninth Street Colored School. In 1890, Terrell was named principal and superintendent of colored schools. The East Ninth Street School was moved to the corner of East 12th and Stedman streets in a property trade with the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad in 1906 and renamed North Side Colored High School No. 11. In 1909, a bond election provided funds for a new building, which opened in May 1910. I.M. Terrell was named principal and served until 1915. In honor of its former principal, the school was named I.M. Terrell High School in 1921. The school at East 12th and Stedman streets became an elementary and junior high school in 1938, when Terrell High School was moved to its present location at 1411 E. 18th St. During Terrell's years of service in the Fort Worth public schools, the first fireproof school building in Texas for African Americans was built. Terrell was a member of the Mount Gilead Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Mount Gilead in 1913 was the oldest Black church (founded in 1876) in the city and was the largest African American church of any denomination in Texas. On Oct. 15, 1915, Terrell left Fort Worth to become the fifth principal of Prairie View State Normal and Industrial College and was administrator at Prairie View from 1915 to 1918. Following his tenure at Prairie View, Terrell served as president of Houston College (also known as Houston Baptist Academy) in Houston's Fourth Ward, superintendent of the Union Hospital and then worked to secure funding for a new Houston Negro Hospital before serving as the first superintendent. Terrell died on Sept. 28, 1931, in Houston. The I.M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth, buildings at Prairie View A&M University and the Houston Negro Hospital (Riverside General Hospital) all stand as monuments of his efforts and achievements.   Source: Gayle W. Hanson, "Terrell, Isaiah Milligan (I.M.)," Handbook of Texas Online, accessed Feb. 3, 2022. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.   Get articles like this in your inbox. Subscribe to City News.   This press release was produced by City of Fort Worth. The views expressed here are the author's own.