W. H. (William Henry) Thomas

For nearly thirty years, William Henry Thomas taught English at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas in College Station. Born on January 11, 1880, in Fayette County, Texas, he studied at Austin College and the University of Texas, and later earned a master's degree at Columbia University.

Thomas was an early force in the Texas Folk-Lore Society. His 1912 pamphlet Some Current Folk-Songs of the Negro was the society's first publication, and later readers credited him with helping shape its mission: not just to collect folklore, but to interpret and enjoy it as part of living culture.

Remembered by colleagues as a clear-minded, humane teacher with a strong sense of humor, Thomas also co-edited essay collections for students. He died on March 1, 1935. Though not widely known today, his writing remains valuable for anyone interested in early folklore studies and the preservation of African American song traditions.