HISTORY OF CRAWFORD

HISTORY OF J.H. CRAWFORD

As one delves into the history of Joseph H. Crawford Elementary School, it is inevitable that the old Hollywood School will come to focus.

This old country school (Hollywood School) was located on East Montgomery Road more than half a century ago. While it is not a direct outgrowth of the Hollywood School, Crawford was established under conditions that seemed highly related to the continuation of this country school. First of all the Hollywood School became part of the Houston Independent School District in 1903, with J.R. Anderson as principal and Mabel Wesley as his assistant. A fire caused Wesley to seek temporary headquarters for her pupils in a frame structure at 1610 Davis Street.

In 1916, construction began on the first brick for Black students at 1510 Clark Street (Jensen Drive). Upon completion of the school on 1917, Mrs. Mabel Wesley, along with her small faculty and pupils, moved into the new structure. It was Mrs. Wesley who submitted the name Joseph H. Crawford, in honor of a former teacher in the Houston Public School and professor of science in Prairie View College.

Mrs. Mabel Wesley was the first principal of Crawford School and held the distinction of being the first Black woman principal in the District. She was an admirable, firm administrator. She was held in high esteem by her faculty, respected by her patrons, admired by her pupils. She remained an energetic and proud principal at Crawford until her death on May 17, 1941.

Since Mrs. Wesley’s death, Crawford has had a succession of illustrious leaders who have been determined to carry on in the tradition of maintaining a functional program in the Fifth Ward Community. Her immediate successor Tillman H. Henderson, was a strong champion for the welfare and cultural improvements of the students and parents of the community.

The names E.S. Myers, E.L. Cline, W.L.D. Johnson, U.S. Morgan, C.R. Taylor, G.J. Gorham and Lisa McClinton, who is the present principal at Crawford Elementary School, are synonymous with educational excellence

The influence of Crawford’s dynamic principals has certainly been reflected in the lives of many of its former students. Arthur Gaines, George Haynes, and Gloria Duke are all past administrators in the Houston Independent School District, Dr. Marion Ford, a Houston dentist, Surrey E. Davis, Justice of Peace and Don Mitchell of Television’s Ironside series are but a few ex-students to whom we can point with pride.