Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

James E. Guinn School

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 26, 2025

1. James E. Guinn School Marker

Inscription. After Fort Worth public schools were organized in the fall of 1882, black students continued to be taught in black churches for more than a year. The city completed a schoolhouse for blacks on E. 9th Street at Elm in December 1883.

The son of a former slave, James Elvis Guinn was born in Fort Worth. Though neither of them could read nor write, his parents placed a great value on education, and James attended Fort Worth's early schools for blacks. He later pursued a college degree and became a professor of chemistry at Prairie View College, now Prairie View A&M University.

Guinn returned to Fort Worth as principal of South Side Colored School in 1900. Construction of a new three-story brick school building, designed by the prominent architectural firm of Sanguinet and Staats, began at the corner of Louisiana and Rosedale Avenues in April 1917. Shortly before its completion, Guinn died on July 11, 1917. Six days later the school board voted to name the new school building James E. Guinn School in his honor. It was the largest black school in Fort Worth in 1930. After sixty-three years of service it, it was closed in 1980. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986

Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2720.)

Topics. This

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historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1917.

Location. 32° 43.959′ N, 97° 19.278′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is at the intersection of South Freeway (Interstate 35 Frontage Road) and East Rosedale Street (Business U.S. 287), on the right when traveling south on South Freeway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Worth TX 76104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

It is also in the American South.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Baker Funeral Home (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Calvin Littlejohn (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mt. Zion Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Terrell Heights (approx. ¼ mile away); Emanuel Hebrew Rest Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Andrews United Methodist Church of Fort Worth (approx. half a mile away); Maxwell-Liston House (approx. half a mile away); Saint Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.

Photographed by Jeff Leichsenring, October 26, 2025

2. James E. Guinn School Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 80 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 27, 2025, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.