Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Jessie May McGuire Dent
Photographed by James Hulse, January 31, 2025
1. Jessie May McGuire Dent Marker
Inscription.
Jessie May McGuire Dent. . Born in Galveston on March 24, 1892 to Robert and Alberta (Mabson) McGuire, Jessie May McGuire Dent was an important Galveston Civil Rights figure. In 1909, she graduated as valedictorian from Central High School while a student at Howard University, she became one of the 22 founding members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority in 1913. Delta Sigma Theta would become one of the most important Black sororities in America. After graduating from Howard, McGuire Dent returned to Central High School as girls' dean and Latin teacher. She married Thomas Dent in 1924, and they had one child, Thomas Henry Dent, Jr. Mcguire Dent was an active member of the Galveston community, belonging to Avenue L Missionary Baptist Church, the Red Cross, NAACP, Galveston's Community Chest, the Colored Independent Voters League and the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas. In 1941, she established what is now the Galveston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta., McGuire Dent is most known for the 1943 case Jessie McGuire Dent, et al vs. The Board of Trustees of the Public Free Schools of the City of Galveston, Texas, et al. The case was the second to demand equal pay for African American teachers, deans, secretaries and principals filed by the NAACP in Texas. The court ruled that the Galveston School District must pay African Americans equally, regardless of whether the employee was educated in segregated schools. McGuire Dent died March 12, 1948, and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery. In honor of her contributions to the sorority, education and community, the Galveston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta named their scholarship for Galveston County High School graduates after her. In 1999, Galveston named its recreation center, on the site of her family home, in honor of McGuire Dent for her contributions to the city and equality for African Americans.
Born in Galveston on March 24, 1892 to Robert and Alberta (Mabson) McGuire, Jessie May McGuire Dent was an important Galveston Civil Rights figure. In 1909, she graduated as valedictorian from Central High School while a student at Howard University, she became one of the 22 founding members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority in 1913. Delta Sigma Theta would become one of the most important Black sororities in America. After graduating from Howard, McGuire Dent returned to Central High School as girls' dean and Latin teacher. She married Thomas Dent in 1924, and they had one child, Thomas Henry Dent, Jr. Mcguire Dent was an active member of the Galveston community, belonging to Avenue L Missionary Baptist Church, the Red Cross, NAACP, Galveston's Community Chest, the Colored Independent Voters League and the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas. In 1941, she established what is now the Galveston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta.
McGuire Dent is most known for the 1943 case Jessie McGuire Dent, et al vs. The Board of Trustees of the Public Free Schools of the City of Galveston, Texas, et al. The case was the second to demand equal pay for African American teachers, deans, secretaries and principals filed by the NAACP in Texas. The court ruled that the Galveston School District must pay African Americans equally,
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regardless of whether the employee was educated in segregated schools. McGuire Dent died March 12, 1948, and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery. In honor of her contributions to the sorority, education and community, the Galveston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta named their scholarship for Galveston County High School graduates after her. In 1999, Galveston named its recreation center, on the site of her family home, in honor of McGuire Dent for her contributions to the city and equality for African Americans.
Erected 2020 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23251.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is March 24, 1892.
Location. 29° 17.248′ N, 94° 47.625′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. It is on 28th Street Rear north of Avenue R. The marker is located at the McGuire Dent Recreation Center building, east side of 28th Street between Ave. Q and Ave. R. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2222 28th Street, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Jessie May McGuire Dent, African American educator, civil rights activist, suffragist, and founder of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was born to Robert McGuire, a city police officer, and Alberta (Mabson) McGuire on March 24, 1891, in Galveston, Texas. The family lived in a house next door to her grandfather, John McGuire, on Avenue R between 27th and 28th Street. The house was a block from the Gulf of Mexico. When she was nine years old, she and her family survived the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. Her grandfather and many of the familys neighbors died. Her and her familys experience during the storm and its aftermath is unknown.
(Submitted on January 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Photographed by James Hulse, January 31, 2025
3. The McGuire Dent Recreation Center and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
