1916 Historic Black African American Houston Texas Bruce School Class Photo

  

Identified #5 (Fifth Ward) & twice signed Schluetler Frank J. , a prominent photographer of oil boom Houston. Scott, teacher, is identified in pen bottom right.

Children's dress ranges from barefoot to Edwardian propriety. Each child is attentive and expressive, remarkably only the teacher turns from the camera. Bruce School appears to be named or Blanche Kelso Bruce, a freed Virginia slave who became the first African American to serve a full term in the Senate (Missouri) aside many other high ranking political positions including Register of the Treasury and Recorder of Deeds in D. Striking image w/ strong contrast. 4.75 x 6.75 w/ emulsion crack that does affect the seated row of children and significant top corner loss.