This collection was created to honor, preserve, and communicate the rich heritage of Arlington's Black community. If you can provide more details for any item in the archive or would like to partner with us to preserve your family's or group's materials too, please get in touch by email or leave a message for the Local History Librarian at 817-459-6795.

The following images are just a preview of what is to come! This archive will contain more than 100 items when the first phase of digitizing & describing is complete. So stay tuned and watch us grow!

To learn about the history behind these items, see the following:

The Hill: A Report on the Growth & Development of Arlingtons Historic African-American Communities, 1845-1999 — Hardy, Heck, Moore & Myers (1999)
The Hill: A Proud African-American Community in the Original Township of Arlington, Texas — Mount Olive Baptist Church (1999)
Forgotten Images of Arlington's African-American Past — Mark Dellenbaugh for APL's Black History Month Festival (2017)
LINK: Arlington's Historic 'The Hill' Neighborhood: A StoryMap — Anthony Cisneros for Arlington's Landmark Preservation Commission (2021)
The Hill: Arlington's Historic African-American Community — Jason Sullivan for the Arlington Historical Society Newsletter (2021)

Arlington Black History Community Archive

ALL#A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1950s - (Possibly) Little Richard performing in the Hill

Description: 1950s - A performer described by photo donor as Little Richard performing in the Hill, most likely in the Dragnet Club. We are seeking to verify that claim with docmentary evidence.
Coverage: United States - Texas - Tarrant County - Arlington
Source: Arlington Historical Society, Fielder House Museum Collection
Record ID: ABHCA 00014
Usage Rights: This item may be copyright protected. If so, fair use printing and downloading are allowed for educational purposes only. Distribution, particularly for commercial purposes, requires permission from the copyright owner.
Subject: Arlington (Tex) -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- Biography.
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

abhca_00014_2807x3701_1950s_-_little_richard_in_arlington_hill_nightclub_edited.jpg

1959 - Betty Johnson Hogg - Bible School

Description: Betty Johnson Hogg - Bible School
Coverage: United States - Texas - Tarrant County - Arlington
Source: Arlington Historical Society
Record ID: ABHCA 00017
Usage Rights: This item may be copyright protected. If so, fair use printing and downloading are allowed for educational purposes only. Distribution, particularly for commercial purposes, requires permission from the copyright owner.
Subject: Arlington (Tex) -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- Biography.
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG
Publication Date: 1959

File attachment

abhca_00017_1797x1257_oct_1959_-_betty_johnson_hogg_-_bible_school_509571043.313269.jpg

1960s - Cynthia Jones with car

Description: Cynthia Jones with red & white car in the 1960s.
Coverage: United States - Texas - Tarrant County - Arlington
Source: Arlington Historical Society, Fielder House Museum Collection
Record ID: ABHCA 00011
Usage Rights: This item may be copyright protected. If so, fair use printing and downloading are allowed for educational purposes only. Distribution, particularly for commercial purposes, requires permission from the copyright owner.
Subject: Arlington (Tex) -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- Biography.
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

1960s - Easter kids

Description: Three children of Cynthia Jones and an out of town guest in their Easter best.
Coverage: United States - Texas - Tarrant County - Arlington
Source: Arlington Historical Society, Fielder House Museum Collection
Record ID: ABHCA 00012
Usage Rights: This item may be copyright protected. If so, fair use printing and downloading are allowed for educational purposes only. Distribution, particularly for commercial purposes, requires permission from the copyright owner.
Subject: Arlington (Tex) -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- Biography.
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

abhca_00012_-_ahs_-_easter_-_3_jones_kids_out_of_town_guest_6131x3823_brightened.jpg

1960s - Margaret Taylor, first black nurse in Arlington

Description: Margaret grew up in The Hill roughly 1/2 mile from Arlington High (Cooper at Abram). But until segregation ended in Arlington in the mid 1960s, the closest high school Arlington's black children could attend was I.M. Terrell in Fort Worth—13 miles away by bus! That hardship made getting a diploma challenging for residents of The Hill, but dozens like her overcame the extra burden. Margaret graduated in 1957 and went on to become the first black nurse at Arlington Memorial Hospital.
Coverage: United States - Texas - Tarrant County - Arlington
Source: Arlington Historical Society, Fielder House Museum Collection
Record ID: ABHCA 00023
Usage Rights: This item may be copyright protected. If so, fair use printing and downloading are allowed for educational purposes only. Distribution, particularly for commercial purposes, requires permission from the copyright owner.
Subject: Arlington (Tex) -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- History. African Americans -- Texas -- Arlington -- Biography.
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

abhca_00023_1746x2416_png_margaret_taylor_nurse_img_3994.jpg.png

1960s era - Mount Olive Baptist Church, Annual Yearbook [cover]

Description: A guide to the ministries of the church, along with historical perspective.
Record ID: ABHCA 00008
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

abhca_00008_2837x3636_1960s_mount_olive_annual.jpg

1960s era - Mount Olive Baptist Church, Annual Yearbook [cover]

Description: A guide to the ministries of the church, along with historical perspective.
Record ID: ABHCA 00008
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

1964 - Booker T. Washington - Cover of The Dragon annual

Description
Source: Beverly Jackson
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

abhca_00006_3024x4032_cover_of_the_dragon_1964_btw_elem._yearbook.jpg

1964 - Booker T. Washington - The Dragon annual, p. 18 - 7th grade

Description: Includes Charlesetta Pointer
Source: Beverly Jackson
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

abhca_00007_-_the_dragon_1964_page_18_-_seventh_grade_-_btw_elem._yearbook.jpg

1970s - 3 kids with giant spool and bike

Description: L to R: Mark Frederick Pointer, Mike Pointer, Monica. Early 1970s.
Source: Arlington Historical Society
Record ID: ABHCA 00010
Language: English
Type: Image
File Format: .JPG

File attachment

ahs-_3_kids_with_spool_-_mike_pointer_middle_monica_mark_frederick_pointer-_jpeg.jpg