To share an oral history of the Victory Grill, E4 Creative Mentors Jadzia Padilla, Jennifer Chavez, and Karina Mata interviewed Harold McMillan.

Tillotson College (1875) and Sam Huston College (1878) were established as private institutions to provide Black people with formal education. For most, this would be the first time they learned to read and write. The two institutions shared friendly competition through sports and corresponding core values. After being met with a financial burden, the institutions […]

For a detailed history of Rosewood Park, ADHP member Darnell Wilson interviewed the City of Austin’s Program Manager, Kim McKnight, and Program Coordinator and Historian, Sarah Marshall.

For a detailed history of Waterloo Greenway, ADHP member Darnell Wilson interviewed the Conservancy’s Community Engagement and Government Relations Director, Melissa Ayala.

The Oakwood Cemetery is Austin’s oldest cemetery and is home to Austin’s founding population. The cemetery is divided into 4 quarters and stands near the heart of downtown Austin. The cemetery symbolizes the diverse cultures present in Austin in its founding years as it was the primary cemetery in the city for years. Oakwood cemetery […]

In this special report, the Austin Digital Heritage Project collaborates with Creative Action to showcase Blackshear Fine Arts Academy, a historical school in East Austin, which is also near Huston-Tillotson University. This school grew from a wooden shack to educate children of newly freed slaves, to a segregated school for Black students, and finally, a […]

In this special report, the Austin Digital Heritage Project collaborates with Creative Action to showcase the life and legacy of Mr. Friendly R. Rice, who led this historical school in East Austin between 1931 and 1972 during Austin’s discriminatory laws under Jim Crow. Interviews include alumnae, such as Betty Ussery and Arlene Youngblood, and Vonnye […]

From a wooden shack in the 19th century, to a modernized school in the 21st century, the Austin Digital Heritage Project collaborates with Creative Action to provide an abridged history of Blackshear Elementary School, also known as Blackshear Fine Arts Academy.

About This Oral History Brenda Malik is a member and former president of the Rogers Washington Holy Cross Neighborhood association. Rogers Washington Holy Cross is an East Austin neighborhood built by and for black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, Malik describes her experience growing up in Rogers Washington, the leaders that emerged […]

About This Oral History Nestled in the heart of East Austin, the Rogers Washington Holy Cross neighborhood holds a special place in the tapestry of the city’s history. One of its proudest residents, Berri McBride, offers a vivid recounting of life in this vibrant community. From its close-knit community to the significant landmarks that shaped […]

About This Oral History Mrs. Marshall reminisces about the vibrant and united community of East Austin, particularly in the Rogers Washington Holy Cross area. Mrs. Marshall paints a vivid picture of the close-knit community, where everyone knew and supported each other, especially during times of illness or grief. Mrs. Marshall emphasizes the importance of preserving […]

About This Oral History Yvette Crawford grew up in Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a historic neighborhood in East Austin that was built by and for black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, Crawford discusses her memories of the neighborhood, her father and his work as the assistant attorney general for Texas, gentrification, and […]

Stuart King is a resident of Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a historic East Austin neighborhood built for and by black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, he describes the sense of community in the neighborhood, what life was like during segregation, and the changes Rogers Washington has faced in recent years.  Interview Highlights […]

Patricia Calhoun is a resident of Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a historic East Austin neighborhood built for and by black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, she discusses the close bonds of the neighborhood, gentrification, ongoing historical research, and more.  Interview Highlights Close ties in the community “The neighborhood was really a kind […]

Lindsey Derrington is the Executive Director of Preservation Austin, the only citywide nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and protecting historic Austin places. In this interview, Derrington describes how she helped the residents of East Austin’s Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a neighborhood built by and for black professionals after World War Two, obtain a historic district designation […]

Ira Poole is a retired educator who lived and currently resides in Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a historic East Austin neighborhood that was built by and for Black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, Poole recalls his journey of finding and paying for a home in the neighborhood, his life challenges, his views […]

  Interview Highlights The racial diversity of East Austin “This East Austin was wholesome. It was just well integrated with beautiful people. The blacks and Hispanics had a loving environment. We were united. We had no racial problems between us. None whatsoever. Mothers would share recipes and beautiful foods, and we’d have little decorative parties […]

Marilynn Poole-Webb, an accomplished lawyer born and raised in Austin, discusses Rogers Washington Holy Cross, an East Austin neighborhood built by and for black professionals after World War Two. She talks about memories of her family and friends, gentrification, the neighborhood today, remembrance, and more. Interview Highlights Remembering her Aunt Irene “My mother was a […]

Cynthia Hurst Mays was born and raised in Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a historic East Austin neighborhood built by and for black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, she describes her childhood, her education, civil rights, and the continued sense of family in Rogers Washington.  Interview Highlights Childhood and community ties “And it […]

Karen Mays-Terry, an educator born and raised in Austin, remembers Rogers Washington Holy Cross, a historic East Austin neighborhood built by and for black professionals after World War Two. In this interview, Mays-Terry discusses community ties in the past, the historic figures that emerged from Rogers Washington, and present day neighborhood connections.  Interview Highlights On […]

Marvin Douglas, a distinguished community figure, reflects on his life’s journey, tracing his roots, challenges, and triumphs. Marvin’s story is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the power of community. Becoming a Firefighter Marvin became one of the first black firefighters in his area, serving alongside pioneers like Ray Davis, Nathaniel Cambridge, and Rodney Green.This […]

The Neill Cochran House Museum is located at 2310 San Gabriel Street in the heart of Austin. It was named after two prominent families that lived there after the Civil War, the Neills who purchased the property in 1876, and the Cochran’s, who acquired it in 1895. The home was initially commissioned by the Hill […]

First Black Newspaper West of the Mississippi This building was home to the Gold Dollar newspaper, one of the first Black newspapers west of the Mississippi. Between 1870 and 1900, it was among 48 Black-owned commercial newspapers in Texas. However, the Gold Dollar building is more than just a former newspaper office; it is the […]

Austin’s Only Intact Slave Quarters The slave quarters building at the Neill-Cochran House Museum is the only existing, intact slave dwelling located within the city of Austin. This historic site offers a rare chance to see and experience the conditions in which enslaved people in Austin worked and lived.

WOW: Sustainable Transportation AR Experience – Seaholm Power PlantView AR (Must be on-site to view) Located at 800 West Cesar Chavez in Austin, TX, the Seaholm Power Plant is one of Austin’s coolest makeovers. Originally built in the 1950s to power the city, it’s now a vibrant downtown destination that mixes history with innovation. While […]

WOW: Sustainable Transportation AR Experience Electric Drive in Austin is this cool little stretch near the old Seaholm Power Plant that’s all about clean energy and innovation. It’s designed for electric vehicles, bikes, and scooters—basically a green transportation hub in the heart of downtown. You’ll find solar-powered charging stations, public art, and it’s right by […]