African American History Highlights: Diboll Teacher J.W. Hogg

During Black History month, the History Center continues to highlight parts of our collection that document the history of Diboll's African American citizens. This week, we focus on the Angelina County School Superintendent's Records, which give us a glimpse into the the life of J.W. Hogg, one of Diboll's early African American teachers.

The Angelina County School Collection contains a variety of ledgers and other records that document Angelina County education from 1885 until 1971. Unfortunately, there are not many records of the county's many African American schools within this record group, but there are some records, and from these we can learn about the men and women who shaped the education of so many of our county's citizens. The Angelina County School Superintendent's Register of Teacher's Certificates, 1904-1925 is a record of both the black and white teachers within the county, and in this record we find Mr. J.W. Hogg, the teacher pictured in one of The History Center's most popular photos. Teacher J.W. Hogg of Diboll posed with his students in 1907 for a photographer from American Lumberman magazine, a lumber industry trade publication that featured Southern Pine Lumber Company and Diboll with photographs from 1903 and 1907. According to the photo caption, reported average daily attendance at this segregated school for Diboll's black children was forty students. The school year then was seven months, beginning on September 30. From the Angelina County School Superintendent's records, we see that Mr. Hogg received his diploma from Prairie View Normal Institute and held a lifetime teaching certificate.

Two of the oldest records in the Angelina County Schools Collection, including the Register of Teacher's Certificates, can be downloaded by clicking here.