The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE ANNIE E. COLBERT-ROSENWALD SCHOOL TEXAS HISTORICAL
MONUMENT DEDICATION
______
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, April 30, 2021
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the dedication of the Annie E. Colbert-Rosenwald School Texas State Historical Marker in Dayton, Liberty County, Texas. The text of marker reads as follows:
BY 1883, LIBERTY COUNTY MAINTAINED 53 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING 19 AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOLS. THE AVERAGE SCHOOL TERM WAS THREE MONTHS FOR AGES 8-14 BUT THE ONLY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN IN DAYTON WAS LOCATED NEAR THE SETTLEMENTS OF STILSON AND FOUTS
IN THE LATE 1890S, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HIRED THEIR FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TEACHER, ANNIE (FAIRCHILD) COLBERT (1866-1961). BORN IN HOUSTON, SHE ATTENDED HOUSTON SCHOOLS AND THEN TILLOTSON INSTITUTE IN AUSTIN. SHE TAUGHT AT THE GREGORY SCHOOL UNTIL SHE MARRIED RAILROAD PORTER TONY COLBERT.
FORBIDDEN TO TEACH SCHOOL IN HOUSTON AS A MARRIED WOMAN, THEY MOVED TO DAYTON WHERE ANNIE ACCEPTED A POSTION AT A ONE-ROOM SHACK. UPON ARRIVAL, SHE GATHERED HER STUDENTS AND, TOGETHER, THEY BUILT AN IMPROVED ONE-ROOM FRAME SCHOOLHOUSE NEAR LUKE AND PRATER STREETS. MRS. COLBERT CONTINUED TO TEACH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS OF DAYTON UNTIL 1918, INSTILLING THE VALUE OF EDUCATION IN HER STUDENTS AND WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
IN 1918, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL RELOCATED TO A SITE NEAR THE ST PAUL AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH UNTIL 1927, WHEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILT THE DAYTON COLORED SCHOOL. SADLY, IT BURNED IN 1929. THAT SAME YEAR, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERED WITH THE ROSENWALD SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM TO CONSTRUCT A SCHOOL FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY. THE NEW FOUR-ROOM ROSENWALD SCHOOL WAS DEDICATED IN 1934 AND NAMED IN HONOR OF ANNIE COLBERT, A PIONEER IN AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
After the integration of black and white students in the late 1960s, the Colbert School expanded to serve all of Dayton Independent School District's fifth and sixth grade students. As Dayton's student population increased, and other schools were built, the Colbert School became the prekindergarten campus.
As a former member of the Texas Historical Commission, I know that this is a great honor for the community, Colbert School alumni, and the Dayton Independent School District.
Brian Babin, D.D.S.,Member of Congress.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 75
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