Frances Marie Grundy, El Paso TX, 1931

Studio photograph of Frances Marie Grundy at the age of six in downtown El Paso, Texas. "Frances Grundy attended Douglass for twelve years. She was in the original class that started in the kindergarten. Frances has the highest average in her class. The average, 92.76, is one of the highest ever made at the school. Frances is a talented musician. She plays the piano well and plays alto saxophone in the band. She is not athletic, but is one of the best students that the school has ever had. Her intentions are to continue studies in college." These words written about Frances in the book, The Dragon - History of Douglass School by John Collyns Fullmore, Jr., Class of 1941. Frances Grundy could attend only one school in El Paso, Texas. That school was Douglass, this was the only school opened to black people. The school offered classes such as reading, spelling, literature, mathematics, chemistry, physical education, sports, band, choir, home economics and manual training. Douglass also offered a night school so ex-students could finish their high school work and graduate. However, the school was still not part of the Texas school system because segregation remained legal.

Area: Central / South Central

Source: Frances Marie Grundy

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History