During Black History Month, the story emerges of three homeowners from Freedmen’s Town who engaged in a legal battle with Rice University to retain ownership of their land

During a David vs. Goliath-like confrontation, three Black homeowners, who were formerly enslaved, challenged the affluent Rice Institute when the university sought to expand its territory in Freedmen’s Town during the Jim Crow era.

Dr. Caleb McDaniel and Dr. Alexander Byrd, both history professors at Rice University, stumbled upon this largely concealed chapter of history while leading the university’s Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice.

“The university’s interactions with the Black community in Houston hold many surprises,” remarked Byrd, who also serves as Rice’s vice provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Rice University was deeply rooted in the Jim Crow era, established and constructed during that period of American history.”

The initial trustees of Rice University aimed to construct the campus on a parcel of land on Louisiana Street near Leland Avenue, a small plot deeded to the Rice Institute by William Marsh Rice in 1892. Seeking expansion, the institute began purchasing neighboring properties from Freedmen’s Town’s formerly enslaved residents. However, Bettie Leonard, Laura Hardy, and Robert Shaw staunchly rebuffed multiple purchase offers.

Hardy, wed to the first principal of the Gregory School, lived near their residence. Leonard inherited her property from her mother, Sally Wicks, who acquired it during her brief years of freedom post-emancipation.

“These were individuals who were once considered property, whose ancestors were likewise regarded as such. As enslaved individuals, their opportunities for property ownership were severely restricted. The post-emancipation era held high hopes for them to establish their own paths and pass on wealth to future generations,” elucidated Byrd.

The situation escalated as the institute erected fences, blocking access to the homeowners’ dwellings. At one juncture, a large charity circus sponsored by the Ku Klux Klan took place on Rice’s premises, within sight and earshot of their homes. Nevertheless, Leonard, Hardy, and Shaw remained resolute. Despite their financial hardships, they engaged legal counsel to file an injunction against Rice.

“It’s crucial to acknowledge and comprehend the courage and determination displayed by these early Freedmen’s Town residents in defending their property and rights to the fullest extent of the law, even when pitted against an institution with significantly greater financial resources,” McDaniel emphasized.

The lawsuit endured for a considerable period, ultimately dropped due to lack of prosecution, as indicated in court records. Meanwhile, Rice University relocated three miles southwest to its current campus on Main Street.

“Rice’s plans for the property were effectively thwarted by this legal battle. They were unable to sell the property to Houston ISD or any other entity as long as property holders contested ownership, hindering them from selling the entire plot,” McDaniel added.

Shaw and Leonard retained their homes until their passing, subsequently acquired by Rice under unclear circumstances. Hardy eventually sold her land and relocated further west within Freedmen’s Town. It is believed that the Whitehall Houston Hotel now occupies the site of their former residences, while Rice’s former property serves as Chevron’s headquarters.

Not much additional information exists about them, except that Hardy, Leonard, and Leonard’s mother are interred at Olivewood Cemetery. Historians have been unable to locate photographs of them. Nevertheless, they aspire to ensure that this significant chapter of history and its implications are never forgotten.

“Understanding its own history, particularly when it involves mistakes and areas requiring rectification and enhancement over time, is crucial for a university,” noted McDaniel. “This is not just Rice University’s history but a part of Houston’s narrative. Progress as a community necessitates an understanding of our past, reflecting on stories such as these.”

For further details on this narrative, visit the Rice University Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice’s website.