African American History Research Center at the Gregory School
🏢 Houston Public Library — Houston, Texas
African American History Research Center at the Gregory School
Houston's only library dedicated to African American history and culture, the African American History Research Center occupies the 1926 Edgar M. Gregory School — the first public school for African American children in Houston — deep in the historic Freedmen's Town neighborhood of the Fourth Ward. Its archive of personal papers, photographs, and oral histories documenting the Black experience in Houston and Texas is one of the most significant of its kind in the South.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–5pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 8am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 1300 Victor St, Houston, TX 77019
Phone: 8323931440
Website: houstonlibrary.org
📖 About African American History Research Center at the Gregory School
<p>The white-brick Edgar M. Gregory School opened in 1926 in Freedmen's Town, Houston's Fourth Ward — a community established by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War — and served as a K–8 school until 1980. Named for Union Army officer and Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner Edgar M. Gregory, the building was designated a State Archaeological Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission in 1995. After standing vacant for nearly three decades, the school was transformed into a library through an $11 million restoration funded by federal community development block grants and city contributions; the renovated facility opened on November 14, 2009. Renamed the African American History Research Center in fall 2022, it holds personal and professional papers of African American Houstonians, oral history recordings, photographs, and digitized collections including the Christia Adair Collection — all accessible in person and online through HPL's digital archive.</p>
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Only HPL location dedicated exclusively to African American history and culture
- Housed in the 1926 Edgar M. Gregory School, a Texas State Archaeological Landmark
- Located in Freedmen's Town, Fourth Ward — Houston's historic post-Civil War African American community
- Holds the Christia Adair Collection and extensive oral history recordings
- On-site oral history recording room open to community members documenting family and community stories
📱 Free with a Houston Public Library Card
Any Texas resident can get an HPL card free and unlock:
📍 More Houston Public Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of materials does the African American History Research Center hold?
The center houses personal and professional papers, photographs, business records, social club archives, family collections, and oral histories representing the Black experience in Houston and Texas. Digitized materials including the Christia Adair Collection are also accessible online through HPL's digital archive at houstonlibrary.org/AAHRCA.
What is the history of the Gregory School building?
The Edgar M. Gregory School was built in 1926 in Freedmen's Town, the Fourth Ward community founded by formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. It was the first public school for African American children in Houston and operated as a K–8 school until 1980. After years of vacancy, an $11 million restoration preserved its original white brick facade and reopened it as a library in 2009. The Texas Historical Commission designated it a State Archaeological Landmark in 1995.
Can community members record their own family histories at the center?
Yes — the African American History Research Center includes a dedicated oral history recording room where community members can document and preserve personal and family histories. Contact the center at 832-393-1440 or visit houstonlibrary.org/aahrc to learn about current oral history programs and how to schedule a session.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.