Women in El Paso HistoryThese are my notes on bits and pieces of El Paso women's history as I find them. In researching women's history in particular, it's important to note details that might seem insignificant at first glance, in case one finds other information later. Also, given our culture, often information about women is found through researching the men in their lives (i.e. husband, fathers, etc.) so the notes here might only state that mrs. X was married to mr. X who was important for some reason, but in researching him, there might be information about his wife found later. Ms. Sarah John has a list of women who contributed to El Paso's development. These women have a * in front of their names. GOOD SOURCE for information on Women in El Paso's history: The Woman's Club of El Paso : its first thirty years by Mary S. Cunningham on Reserve. Copies y at VV library and UTEP at HQ1906.E4C86. Also at the public library at various branches at 367.9764962 CUN. "The Chicana in American History: The Mexican women of El Paso 1880-1920" by Mario T. Garcia in Pacific Historical Review 49(1980):315-338 at UTEP at F851.P18 Last page of the application for the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame lists members' names. This might be an interesting place to start in your detective work! EPCHS= El Paso County Historical Society 1895 Jolly Girls Bachelor Club formed by towns elite young ladies trying to create additional entertainment for themselves. (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) EPHA: 015-1997-001 photocopy of newspaper picture of these seven girls, 1895. Kate Hague, Magoffin, Nannie Beall,Sudye Beall, Zue Ball, Lily Hague, Katie Moore 1920 Jan 16th Female married EP Public School teachers are notified of pending layoffs. Money is short. Single females are considered family wage earners, whereas married women have working husbands. (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) spring 1921 married teachers reemployed. 1919 El Paso Tejanas Laundress strike
Mexican Domestics Problem in El Paso NY Times article Aug 30, 1953 Acosta, Lucy LULAC organizer
* Alarcon, Francisca Alexander, Birdie
leader in musical activities in El
Paso 1913-1960.
Handbook of Texas Online Armstong, Mrs. O.H. "Arguably El Paso's premier woman golfer of the late 1920s and into the 1930s. In 1935 she made history as the first woman to play in a men's tournament in El Paso. Per Richard Bussell, in the Conquistador newsletter of the EPCHS Fall 2007. Austin, Maude notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson * Ayoub, Zacchia Jabalie Syrian Lebanese. 1930 Built Border Tobacco -- started a million dollar business by selling candy from a truck. Beall, Margaret notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Bernard, Anna Aufman (1902-1960) Guiding force for creating the Sunshine Day Nursery, prototype for today's day care centers. also helped grow and develop the McCall Day Nursery for African American children. Founded interfaith day under Temple Mt. Sinai, member of Texas Western Women's Auxiliary and Planned Parenthood. Insights and hindsights of some El Paso Jewish families p. 22-23 daughter is Janice Bernard Katz. Berrien, Eliza notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson -- EPCHS 080-1992-247-B Photo of party in 1904. Bishop, Ida, Dr. This physician and her dr husband arrived in El Paso in 1888, and established their practices in the Sheldon building, there until 1910, and then the Herald building. she would later become president of the Pioneer Women's Association. She is believed to be the first woman to practice medicine in Texas. Per Richard Bussell, in the Conquistador newsletter of the EPCHS, Fall 2007. Bloss, Margaret Varner holder of the US and All-England badminton titles. Inducted into the El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1956. newspaper clipping collection: Cliff Hill collection (UTEP) Briones, Dolores former El Paso County Judge, native El Pasoan Chicanas in Texas Politics * Brown,Heidi First woman to command an air defense artillery brigadeBrown, Kate Moore (Mrs. William R) EP’s first music teacher in the public schools. 1890-1899. 1887 -- at 16 first woman graduate of EP High school. Ceremonies held in 34th district courtroom. Instigator/founder of MacDowell Club 1917- focus of all local music life. Pioneer would-be historian of local music. On board of Radford School. Sister to Francis Moore, local composer. Started scholarship club which was nucleus of AAUW, 1912. Organized first Music Teachers Association in 1890 (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) First woman director of EP chamber of commerce (Metz, El Paso Chronicles 1924. 1924 June woman's dept of chamber of commerce formed. Originated the idea for the El Paso Museum of art Handbook of Texas Online article Music in El Paso by Robert M Stevenson SWref no. 27 Bucher, Anne 1892-1973 Prominent El Paso businesswoman active in cultural and civic life. Anne Bucher Family Papers. Ms 0304. Rio Grande Historical Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Calisher, Ada wife of Jacob Calisher, merchant and proprietor of the J. Calisher Dry Goods Co, 1881-1912. She operated a boarding house. First superintendent of the El Paso Hebrew Sunday School, organized on Oct 4, 1890. Insights and hindsights of some El Paso Jewish families p.50-51 EPCHS 090-2002-008-061 "Letter from Cpt. Billy Woolverton, retired E.P. fireman and policeman Aug. 2, 1968 to Bill Hooten with story of the 1910 Calisher Fire. 3 pages." Password Calisher's Department Store, : xxvii, 140 Carr, Vicki, 1940- popular singer born in El Paso and raised in southern California * Carvahlo, Eloisa with her partner worked as a vice detective in the 1930s Chabram, Angie Gonzalez one of two El Paso latinas who became "matriarchs of academic dynasties." Chacon, Alicia First female county judge Chicanas in Texas Politics Clark, Fannie Echols (Mrs. Leigh)
Cotera, Martha P. civil rights activist, historian educator. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1938, moved to El Paso in 1946 and settled here. Graduated from Texas Western. founded Chicana Research and Learning Center in Austin. Organized walk-out of Mexican Americans in Crystal City (Dec. 1969) outside of San Antonio, TX which lead to the creation of Raza Unida a "third political party". Notable Hispanic American women Handbook of Texas Online articles: Mexican American Business and Professional Women's Association, Raza Unida party. photo Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia at UTEP Ref E184.S75 L35 2006 De Avila, Dolores Innovative Principal of Ysleta Elementary School working with EPISO (El Paso Inter-Religious Sponsoring Organization) Deuell, Henrietta (pseud Peggy Hull) first accredited woman war correspondent and founding member of the Overseas Press Club (1939) she got her start in El Paso in the spring of 1916 reporting on national guard unit activities during the Mexican Revolution. She came down with the national guard unit of Cleveland, OH where she wrote for the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. She wrote a regular advertising column and reported on activities at Fort Bliss and Camp Pershing for the El Paso Herald and the El Paso Morning Times. Handbook of Texas Online http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/53819/womens_journalism_the_life_of_peggy.html, Those Extraordinary Women of World War I - Page 64 It might be interesting to research the articles she wrote in 1916-1917 locally at her start and compare them to her later writings and what she accomplished. Her acquaintance with General Pershing helped advance her career in a time when women were not going to be approved to do this kind of work. Dietrich, Louise Nurse administrator, opened hospital in El Paso, prominent in nursing education. Handbook of Texas Online Password vol. vii, page 141 Domestic workers in El Paso " To Toil the Livelong Day"- America's Women at Work, 1780-1980 - Page 269-282 the closest library that has this book is NMSU. chapter written by Vicki L Ruiz who wrote a controversial article in the Special Report: The Border ( El Paso Herald Post summer 1983, page 83). * Dowell, Juana Marquez Wife of Ben Dowell Elliot, Caroline Stras -- She was the first female bank officer in El Paso and when she retired in 1978, she was senior vice-president of operations at the Bank of El Paso. Caroline Stras collection of Fall family papers. Ms 0464. Archives and Special Collections, New Mexico State University Library. Escajeda, Josefina 1893-1981 One of the first Mexican American women folklorists in the 20th century.well known in Lower Valley (Clint, Fabens, San Elizario) *Fairley, Carrie (and Eloisa Carvahlo) linked on Sarah John's list EPCHS -- "El Paso Detective Dept. May 2, 1929. Carrie Fairley, the woman in photo is the first woman dectective on the force." EPCHS 068-1997-001 and 080-1983-003B and 079-2001-056-Z "Transcript of tape recording :""Law Enforcement in Early El Paso"" at quarterly Meeting of the EPCHS. Panel was Capt. Allan Falby, Chris Fox, Mrs. Callie Fairley, Tony Trujillo. Input from Dogie Wright. no password articles so far. Falvey, Rebecca notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Farmer, Marion one of first two graduating nurses of Providence Hospital Oct 1904. (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) Faudoa, Rita 1887- early El Pasoan, granddaugher of Francisca Alarcon. Interview no 719 Institute of Oral History. 25 yrs as assistant to obstetricians and pediatricians in EP. Fewel, Carrie notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Flores de Andrade -- early Mexican activist, moved with Pedro Mendoza (member of the PLM) to El Paso in 1906. Joined another women's group and aligned with Francisco Madero. Some full text at U.S.-Mexico Borderlands- Historical and Contemporary Perspectives - Page 134, Disrupting Savagism: Chicana/o mexican Immigrant, and Native American ... - Page 59 Garrett, Elizabeth , daughter of legendary sheriff Pat Garrett, blind, song writer. Password xxi, 60-67 1915 she copyrights her song "O Fair New Mexico" which remains the state song to this day. (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) She composed song called El Paso, published and copyrighted by the Woman's Club of El Paso sept 1927 (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) Graves, Mattie. Grew one full acre of 30 varieties of roses on her 33 acre farm near Ysleta. she and her husband purchased the farm in 1906. in 1922 she was the first person to make a water user's payment to Elephant Butte Dam project. Per Richard Bussell, in the Conquistador newsletter of the EPCHS, Fall 2007. Guerrero, Rosa Well known folkloric dancer.
Hague, Flora notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson *Hart, Juana Siqueiros wife of Simeon Hart Houchen, Rose Gregory 1912, Rose Gregory Houchen, a former Michigan schoolteacher, donated $1,000 to aid Mary Tripp's efforts. The settlement house was formally founded and named for Houchen. Borderlands 21:15 Houghton, Lucy one of first two graduating nurses of Providence Hospital Oct 1904. (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) Howe, Marie Sheldon (Mrs. Walter D.) Password 9:127-131. Elected to EP Hall of Fame 1964. Irwin, Elizabeth notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Johnson, Bertha PFC buried in Concordia buffalo soldier? Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) Jones, Harriott Howze. (Mrs. H. Crampton) father was major general at Fort Bliss, she writes lots of articles on historic houses for Password . Joy, Nancy buried in Concordia, family were ranchers ( Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) page 18) Justice, Mrs. August L. wife of Dr. Justice. notable per Pass of the North and Berrien interview by sonnichsen. with sisters came from New Orleans she and her sisters would be worth a chapter in themselves. La Mujer Obrera [The woman worker]
Lane, Lydia Spencer wife of lieutenant stationed at fort bliss during 1850s wrote I married a soldier F786.L3 1964 (TM, UTEP, EPPL Ref SW Bio L242L 1893) Password 11 pages 114, 132 Husband? Password 8, 26 Logan, Grace. socialite. husband commander at Fort Hancock. Logan Heights historical district named after him.Loomis, Laura notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Machuca, Esther Nieto (1895-1980)Ladies organizer general LULAC 1938-1939
* Magoffin, Maria Gertrudes Valdez de Veramendi wife of James Magoffin Magoffin, Octavia notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson * Manso Indian women
McCutcheon, Frances notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Melby, Florence Cathcart daughter of early physician John W. Cathcart -- important in her own right? Oral HIstory Interview: http://spark.iss.utep.edu/~oralh/cgi-bin/operations.cgi?Operation=SEARCH&RecNum=121Mills, Mary Hamilton
Mora, Pat author, leading advocate for multicultural education and family literacy Morehead, Lemire notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Mundy, Mrs. LL Mundy organized the EP Chapter of the League of Women Voters. (buried in Concordia) at one time owned sunset heights and most of downtown. Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) pageNagley, Mrs. J.E. first woman embalmer of El Paso, opened a "woman's dept" in the embalming shop owned by her husband around 1899. Per Richard Bussell, in the Conquistador newsletter of the EPCHS, Fall 2007. Orndorff, Mama De: builder of the Cortez Hotel buried in Concordia ( Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) page 13) hotel opened sept 1926 (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) Owen, Margaret Dale (Mrs. Will T.) EPCHS: 084-1999-W036 "The Woman's Club of El Paso, yearbook, Oct. 1936-May 1937. Book is dedicated to Mrs. Margaret Dale Owen (Mrs. Will T.) 1867-1936." password article: Owen, Will T. and family: xxxv, 113; xxxvi, 78-79, and son Jerome Dale, 79 Why important? Patterson, Lydia El Segundo Barrio p. 13 in 1906 began a home mission society in the Segundo Barrio that eventually became the Lydia Patterson Institute, educating young Mexican people.
Phillips, Mary Dowell. daughter of EP's first mayor. notable on her own? UTEP special collections: Mary Dowell Phillips memoirs. 3 items MS 31 Mary Dowell Phillips was the daughter of Benjamin Dowell, El Paso's first mayor. She came to the area with her father in 1855. Consists of a photocopy of a typewritten manuscript composed of the following: 1) "Mary Dowell Phillips' Memoirs;" 2) "Statement of Mrs. Mary M. Phillips on Early Days in El Paso, Texas, as Given to Major Richard F. Burges on May 26, 1934 Pierce, Carolyn Done. buried in Concordia. bore 13 children, four sets of twins. Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) page Race, Carrie notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Robinson, Rowena young Smeltertown girl attended EP High, brutally raped and murdered 1/7/1924. first recorded rape-murder case in EP county and never solved (Metz chronicle) Robles, Belen A U.S. Customs inspector, and the first and only female president of the national organization in the 77-year history of the League of United Latin American Citizens or LULAC. Schreffler, Alberta lived in a tent at Brown/California streets. hauled water from where EP high is now. tired of paying $8 rent. newspaper delivered in a fork of a tree. buried in Concordia ( Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) page 11) Seabaugh, Emma first principal of the first high school, on second floor of the central school Sept 1885 (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) Seamon, Mrs. Frank H. in 1923 started what would become the Women’s Auxiliary of UTEP – archives are in Spec Collections, UTEP. Expanded curriculum and physical facilities (tennis courts) to keep the school open rather than having UT move them to Austin. Only 86 students enrolled at Texas Western then. She was wife of professor. Password Xx, 133- Serna ,Jenny Socorro resident, “Socorro one-lady chamber of commerce” responsible for starting the process to save the Socorro Mission in 1973…eventually lead to the Mission Heritage Assoc. she was Treasurer in 1977. Password xxii, 136-137Schuessler, Louise Johnson (Mrs. Willard) "Carrie Nation without a hatchet" as director of the women's dept of the EP Chamber of Commerce successfully cleared newsstands of pornographic material available to teenagers. Password 24: 149-152. Active in many organizations. Shelton, Maude notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson Stanton, Mary I. founded EP Public library 1895. dec 4, 1899 EP Public library's collection of 4000 books owned by Stanton and Fannie J. Clark moves from Sheldon Hotel to City Hall. The city hires a librarian and the library is open all day. (Metz, El Paso Chronicles) Builders of El Paso radio program, Dec 3, 1939 Main Library Reference Southwest 976.496 B848b
*Stephenson, Juana Maria Ascarate de First woman settler, wife of
Hugh Stephenson who owned and founder Concordia. Bore five children.
Died at 46 of being gored by her pet deer. Sullivan, Maud Durlin Hall of Honor 1962, first librarian
Sutherland, Carrie notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson. EPCHS 084-1999-W047 photos of past presidents of the Woman's Club of El Paso OCt 1947-May 1948. Thomas, Bula 1887- Correspondent for the El Paso Times, married to the "Father of White Sands" in Alamogordo. perhaps interesting? NMSU archives Tripp, Mary. the foundation of the Houchen Settlement House, located at the corner of Fifth and Tays Streets, began in 1893 when Mary Tripp started providing homes for young single immigrant girls. Borderlands 21:15 Urrea, Teresa
Van Patten, Lucy. '"milliner-modiste", maker of ladies' hats and clothes opening her shop in 1887. She had nine seamstresses working for her and could make a complete ladies costume in only one day. She was famous for her large hats with ostrich plumes sweeping over the shoulder. Her husband, Col. Eugene Van Patten, an Indian fighter and statesman who helped Theodore Roosevelt organize the Rough Riders does not lie in my domain. He is buried in Las Cruces, New Mexico.' Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) page 10 Photo in the Pioneer Woman Association files of the EPCHS 015-1993-005, 015-1993-006a, 015-1993-006b Voss, Mary notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson War Mothers Association EPCHS 096-2003-001 through 096-2003-004 and 079-2003-055 through 079-2003-060-B Washington, Leona. Conquistador Award recipient, community educator and leader. http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/parks/leona.aspz Webb, Mary African American woman who donated land to a segregated city of the 1940s so that black kids would have a park. http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/parks/leona.asp
*
Welch, Mabel C.
first woman architect and first woman builder in
El Paso, credited with introducing spanish style building to El Paso. Many of her houses are in the Manhattan Heights historic district. she became a fellow as an "american registered architect". correction she made to article in 1975. Article written by her (including her photo) in Password x, 105-110. Articles on houses she built: xx, 130 (Harvey Hacienda 3100 Gold, biographical info also), 180; xxi, 36 (Schuster Mansion 939 Rim Road); xxv, 38 (Dipp Mansion 3101 Gold Ave.),88 (Rees Home, 2619 Altura) -- EPCHS 090-2003-005-006 booklet from 1937 with photos of houses in manhattan heights area. EPPL Ref SW 728.EL69e she is author of El Paso Architecture, 88 pages 19x28 cm. Died 1980 in CA. * White, Thelma Woman's Auxiliary Corps (later known as the Woman's Army Corps) arrives in El Paso March 1943 , headquartered here from 1944-1946 Historic El Paso p. 106 and photo of women's barracks on page 108. Woods, Mary. married to John Woods, blacksmith who cast the bell for st clements. he left her 160,000 estate. died with his boots on ( Concordia Cemetery by Deen Underwood (reserves) page 9) ??Lawrence Milton Lawson, engineer and former US Int’l boundary commissioner – EP hall of honor designee 1961. also useful and active in growing up period: notable per Pass of the North and Builder of El Paso MS by Thompson : Mrs. James L. Marr, Mrs. E.M. Bray, Mrs. Alward White, Payne sisters in law, Mrs. Allen Blacker, Mrs. John M. Dean, Mrs. Wyndham Kemp, Mrs W..M.Coldwellpage compiled by
Rachel Murphree
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