Fort Worth ISD > Center for Archives

Billy W. Sills Center for Archives

The Billy W. Sills Center for Archives of the Fort Worth ISD supports the philosophy of the District and has as its primary role the acquisition and preservation of any and all materials associated with the District.

History:

Soon after becoming a social studies teacher, Billy Sills began collecting artifacts and other material about the Fort Worth ISD and its history. In 1963 he was appointed the first full-time social studies consultant, with the help of the Fort Worth Council for the Social Studies and others, the archives continued to grow. The Board of Education honored him 1983 by naming the archives Billy W. Sills Center for Archives of the Fort Worth ISD.

Goals:

To collect and preserve educational artifacts and related materials for posterity.
To exhibit those materials to the public in an interesting and informative fashion.
To make the collection available to educators and students for scholarly study and research.
To collaborate with local schools and community groups in the study of educational history.

Research:

Athletic Memorabilia
Biographical
Board Minutes
Courses of Study
Fort Worth ISD Data
Individual School Data
Microfiche Records
PTA Scrapbooks
School Annuals / Yearbooks / School newspapers
Newspaper clipping
Slides
Textbooks
Transparencies
WPA records / photos

Museum:

The Archives Center houses a variety of artifacts for public viewing.

Early and current photographs
Paintings from closed schools
Facsimile of the Liberty Bell
Replica of an early classroom
Green B. Trimble's desk
William M. Green's Chair
Athletic Memorabilia - banners, trophies
Equipment -typewriters, microscopes, mimescopes, stereoscopes
Board photos and history
Superintendent photos and history

Contact

Phone: 817-871-3107
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

Address:
2720 Cullen, 2nd Floor
Fort Worth, TX 76107

Upcoming Events:

Join us for a series of lectures and discussions on various topics of interest to historians and genealogists and the general public at the Archives.

September 19 - Gayle Hanson, Historian/Genealogist, "Genealogy Resources"
November 7 - Quentin McGowen, Historian/Collector/County Judge, Topic to be announced.
January 16 - Gayle Hanson, Historian/Genealogist, "Planning Family and School Reunions"
March 6 - Susan Kline, Historian, "A New Deal For Fort Worth Schools: The Fort Worth School Building Program in the 1830's"
May 8 - Chris McIntosh, "Stamping History: History Told Through Stamps"

All the events are on Saturdays and will run from 10 a.m. to noon. Lectures are free of charge to the public and people may reserve a place by calling the Archives at 817-871-3107.