Terrell Law School facts for kids

The Robert H. Terrell Law School was a special school in Washington, D.C.. It was a "historically black" law school, meaning it was created mainly for African American students. This was during a time when many schools were segregated. The school offered classes in the evenings from 1931 until 1950.

Why the School Started

The Robert H. Terrell Law School was founded in 1931. It was started by a group of people including George A. Parker, Philip W. Thomas, Louis R. Mehlinger, Benjamin Gaskins, Chester Jarvis, and Lafayette M. Hershaw. They decided to open this new school because Howard University had stopped its evening law program. Many students still wanted to study law in the evenings.

The school was named after Robert Heberton Terrell. He was an important African American judge in Washington, D.C. Judge Terrell passed away in 1925, and the school was named in his honor.

George A. Parker, one of the founders, had been in charge of another law school before. This was the John M. Langston School of Law. Many teachers from that school also came to teach at Terrell Law School.

What the School Achieved

For 19 years, the Terrell Law School was very important. It taught most of the black law students in Washington, D.C. The school helped about 600 people become lawyers.

The school closed in 1950. This happened because other law schools in the area started allowing students of all races. This meant that black students could now attend more schools.

Important People Who Studied Here

Many talented people studied at Terrell Law School. Here are a few of them:

• Austin L. Fickling: He became the first black judge on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
• Willie Stevenson Glanton: She was the first black woman elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. This is a part of the government that makes laws.
• Ruby Hurley: She was a leader in the civil rights movement. She worked to make sure all people had equal rights.
• John Oliver Killens: He was a famous writer. (He attended but did not graduate from the school.)
• Harry McAlpin: He was a reporter.
• Hubert B. Pair: He also became a judge on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
• Wilhelmina Rolark: She was a member of the Council of the District of Columbia. This group helps run the city.

Teachers at the School

The school had many great teachers. Some of them were:

• Belford Lawson Jr.: He was a lawyer and a civil rights activist.
• Lafayette M. Hershaw: He was a journalist and a lawyer. He also helped start the school and was its president.
• Austin L. Fickling: He taught at the school before becoming a judge.
• Hubert B. Pair: He also taught at the school before becoming a judge.