The Bearcat, 1945-46: Central High School's First Yearbook

Cover of The Bearcat, 1945-46, Central High School's first published yearbook. Courtesy of Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas.

The Galveston and Texas History Center collects and preserves yearbooks from the island's public and private schools. Among our most treasured yearbooks are those from Galveston's Central High School, the first Black high school in the state of Texas. Until recently, our holdings of The Bearcat only went back to 1955. Thanks to a generous donor, we can now preserve and make available the first published yearbook from Central from the 1945-46 school year. The 1945-46 Bearcat will be available for the public to view in the History Center reading room as soon as the library reopens.

Samuel Collins III, a Rosenberg Library Trustee, recently donated a copy that had been passed down through his family so that others could access it at the Rosenberg. Collins' great-uncle, Edwin Johnson, and his wife, Dorothy Womack Johnson, were both seniors in the Central High School class of 1946 and appear in the yearbook. Next to Edwin's name are his nickname - "Pluto", hobby - sports, and educational interest - business. And next to Dorothy's name are her nickname - "Dot", hobby - bicycling, and educational interest - nursing.

Edwin and Dorothy Johnson (center). Courtesy of Sam Collins.

The yearbook Collins donated was originally owned by Dorothy Womack Johnson. She and Edwin Johnson were high school sweethearts and went on to get married.

Edwin Johnson. Courtesy of Sam Collins.

Dorothy Womack Johnson. Courtesy of Sam Collins.

The 1945-46 Bearcat also features Central High School educators who were high-profile leaders in Texas education. Jessie McGuire Dent, the Central High School Dean, fought for racial equality in education throughout the 1940s. In June 1943, she won a lawsuit against the Galveston School Board of Trustees to end the practice of unequal pay for teachers based on their race. As a result, the salaries of Galveston's African-American educators were increased by 20%, making their pay equal to that of white teachers.

Dr. Leon A. Morgan, the Principal, went on to become the director of curriculum and research, and finally superintendent at Galveston ISD until his retirement in 1974. He served as steward of Reedy Chapel A.M.E. Church, founder and director of the Old Central Cultural Center, member of the Galveston City Council, and as member and later chairperson of Galveston's Civil Service Commission. Dr. Morgan's papers are preserved in the archives of the Galveston and Texas History Center.

The History Center's yearbook collection is primarily used by genealogy researchers. Sometimes a yearbook provides the only photo left of a researcher's ancestor. Yearbooks often list career goals, nicknames and hobbies, providing a rare glimpse into an ancestor's life as a young adult. That's why we make it a priority to collect and preserve these important memories for future generations.