Marshall in Harrison County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
H. B. Pemberton
In 1894, Pemberton was hired as the principal of the Colored School in Marshall and he immediately saw the need for a new school building. Given permission but no funding, Pemberton arranged for a loan on his personal credit and constructed a two-story four room building on what is now Travis and Alamo streets. The loan was repaid by the African American community and the school experienced rapid growth. Pemberton guided the expansion of the Black schools in Marshall, and attracted educated and qualified teachers which created a solid atmosphere for scholarly education in the Black community. He also served in a number of regional and state professional and civic organizations, and was a charter member of the local NAACP chapter. Petitions signed by thousands of Harrison County citizens in 1940 led the Marshall school board to name Central High, the school he founded, in his honor. Pemberton died on April 27, 1944 but remains an inspiration for his courage, leadership and his dedication to education.
Erected 2014 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 17963.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education.
Location. 32° 32.073′ N, 94° 22.523′ W. Marker is in Marshall, Texas, in Harrison County. Marker is at the intersection of Wiley Avenue and Wesson Street, on the left when traveling south on Wiley Avenue. The marker is located in Wiley College, in front of H.B. Pemberton Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 711 Wiley Avenue, Marshall TX 75670, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. James Leonard Farmer, Sr. (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Melvin B. Tolson (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wiley College (approx. 0.2 miles away); Matthew W. Dogan, Sr. (approx. ¼ mile away); Kahn Memorial Hospital (approx. 0.4 miles away); Home of Last Texas Confederate Governor Pendleton Murrah (approx. 0.4 miles away); Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); The Adams House (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marshall.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 15, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.