Academic Historian

Richard Selcer is a Fort Worth native who has taught and written history for forty years. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Austin College in Sherman, Texas (1972 and 1973) and his Ph.D. from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth (1980). His teaching stops include Jarvis Christian College, Yankton College, Cottey College, Tarrant County College, and International Christian University (Vienna, Austria and Kiev, Ukraine). He currently teaches at Texas Christian University.

He has written 13 books in Western and Civil War history and published more than 50 articles in magazines and journals. His latest book is Fort Worth Stories (University of North Texas Press, 2021). He has authored numerous historic markers for Fort Worth sites, is a member of the Tarrant County Historical Commission, and conducts walking tours of downtown Fort Worth.

Manet Harrison And Stephen Fowler: The First Black Power Couple?

While scholars debate the first Power Couple of the 20th Century who were African American, Richard Selcer, a historian of the Fort Worth, Texas region, makes the case for the little-known couple, Manet and Stephen Fowler, of Fort Worth and New York City. See his … Read MoreManet Harrison And Stephen Fowler: The First Black Power Couple?

Fort Worth, Texas, Where the West and the South Meet: A Brief History of the City’s African American Community, 1849-2012

In the article below, Fort Worth historian Richard Selcer introduces us to the African American community which has been a presence in this city since its founding in 1849. Fort Worth, Texas’s black community has a distinctive if not unique history.  Fort Worth was a … Read MoreFort Worth, Texas, Where the West and the South Meet: A Brief History of the City’s African American Community, 1849-2012