Her Story of the Austin Branch : 1923 - 2002

The Austin Branch of the American Association of University Women was organized by 15 women on 15 November 1923, at the Driskill Hotel, with many contributions and accomplishments being made by branch members and continuing since. Some of the more noteworthy are:

Branch Accomplishments

Established Austin's first Public Library in 1926. The branch still makes book donations.

Established an endowment fund at the University of Texas with our first contribution of $1,100 in 1934. Aided by the generous donations of more than $10,000 by and for Mildred Englert, a long-time AAUW member, the endowment was completed in 1992 and has a balance of over $65,000. The interest is used for annual scholarships to women in the last year of their doctoral program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Introduced the first "talking book" for the blind in the 1930s.

Opened the first Austin Community Nursery Schools (ACNS) in 1941 for needy families. There is presently one location in south Austin, which is now called Mainspring Schools, and AAUW continues its support. In 1991 the branch held a reception to honor the ACNS 50th year. In 1996 the branch started an endowment fund with a goal of $10,000, with the annual interest to be used to assist an ACNS teacher to further her education.

Worked to improve conditions at Brackenridge Hospital and helped start a Well Baby Clinic, which became a pilot project for the Well Child Clinics.

Sponsored a series of financially successful children's plays in the 1940s and 1950s. Free tickets to underprivileged children were provided.

During the 1940s an active branch legislative committee worked on the Texas State Teachers' Retirement Act, consolidation of small schools, public aid to education, National Women's Rights Bill, and the Wage and Hour Act.

Began and continue to sponsor Women's Legislative Days each February that the Texas state legislature is in session.

Obtained the first Bookmobile for the Austin Public Library in 1951. At the Bookmobile's 10th anniversary in 1961, it had traveled over 86,000 miles and distributed over 1 million books.

Sponsored meetings to stuff 40,000 envelopes with information on Infantile Paralysis in the early 1950s. For several years, members staffed downtown booths on the first day of the March of Dimes Campaign.

Began "Sales Days" at an Austin department store in the early 1950s to raise money for the AAUW scholarship fund. This program continued for a number of years.

Assisted with teaching English and U.S. citizenship exam preparation at the Pan American Center in the late 1950s .

Participated in the Community Council of Austin and Travis County for several years beginning in the early 1960s. The Council later became part of the United Fund.

Held numerous fund raising projects in the early 1960s to help pay for the new AAUW national headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Branch's part of the debt was retired in 1966.

Supported the plans for a Junior College in the early 1960s.

Initiated action to nominate Dr Jenny Lind Porter-Scott for Poet Laureate of Texas. She held this honor in 1964-65.

Branch accomplishments were highlighted in a February 1963 full-page story in the American-Statesman entitled AAUW: 40 Years of Service.

Hosted a two-day Texas Division leadership conference in Austin in 1964.

Volunteered at new educational TV station KLRN-ETV in the mid-1960s, helping out in various capacities.

Assisted with a statewide College Faculty Program for mature women in the late 1960s. Its purpose was to aid older women pursuing graduate work to prepare for full time faculty positions at colleges and universities.

Supported the Austin Public Library's expansion program beginning in the early 1970s.

Celebrated 50th anniversary of the Branch in November 1973 at the Driskill Hotel in the same room where the first organizational meeting was held. In attendance were three of the Branch's original members.

In the early 1970s joined with other groups to help organize and become part of We Care Austin, an environmental coalition.

A Branch member, Mrs. Zettie W. Cole Salathe, established the Albert Schweitzer Scholarship Fund at UT in 1974. The fund, which still exists, was renamed the Zettie W. Cole Salathe Fund in Child Development in 1981.

Developed and published Women in Early Texas in 1975, to recognize significant contributions by women to life in early Texas as a contribution to the American Bicentennial and International Women's Year. The Mayor of Austin proclaimed January 20, 1976, as "Women in Early Texas Day" in conjunction with the book's release. The book's editor, former AAUW State President Dr Evelyn Carrington, presided at a book signing at the Old Bakery in downtown Austin. The book was republished in 1994 by the Texas State Historical Association.

Honored Outstanding Women of Central Texas during the late 1970s and early 1980s (now the Governor's recognition of Outstanding Women of Texas awards).

Sponsored Town Meetings with School Board candidates in mid-1970s.

Held a style show to raise money for the National Fellowship Foundation in 1977.

Worked to support the Equal Rights Amendment and voter registration in the 1970s.

Commissioned artist Damian Priour to create a 70 foot stained glass panel for the Austin Library Permanent Collection as a gift from the Austin Branch. At a July 1979 dedication ceremony, the stained glass panel and a painting by Mr. Gustav Likan were presented to the Library. Mr. Priour also designed the etched glass awards given to Outstanding Women of Central Texas.

Sponsored a community symposium, Energy Sources for the Future -- A Town Meeting in 1980. This event was made possible by a grant from the EF Research and Projects Program

Presented Families Facing Change, a series of programs with a panel of experts, moderated by Dr Inez C Jeffery in 1980.

Established in 1983 what is now Literacy Austin. The Branch continues to supply tutors and served on their board of directors until 1997.

Produced Book Talks by Helen Morton for several years. Helen selected the books and told the stories in her own entertaining style.

Served as an Adopt-A-School sponsor of St. John's Teen Parenting Center of AISD in 1990 and helped provide a computer, established a library, and served as mentors and tutors to these young mothers.

Became a co-sponsor in 1990 of Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics, a conference for young women in grades 6-8, designed to increase awareness of and enable students to talk with women in these fields. We continue to be increasingly involved in this project.

Established in 1991 the Texas Educational Development Grant to assist branch members who wish to further their education.

Hosted the 36th Biennial Texas State Convention in June 1994.

Upon the completion of the UT Fellowship endowment, started providing funds for other local schools and projects. Scholarships were given 1993-94, to Huston-Tillotson College, Austin Community College, St. Edwards University. Funds were also provided to the Believe in Me program and the Teen Parenting Council.

Assisted in Educational Equity workshops and AISD Sexual Harrassment Policy formulation 1993-94.

Received recognition as a 5-Star Branch in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001.

During 1996, long time member Dr Inez C Jeffery was honored by the AAUW Austin Branch with a named Educational Foundation Research and Projects Endowment with a goal of $35,000.

Dr Sue Worden established our Branch web site at http://www.main.org/aauw/.

1997-1998 Education fundraising events included an Antiques Forum, a Card Party, and direct donations to the Dr Inez Jeffery Education Foundation Research & Projects Endowment.

A fashion show with continental breakfast raised funds for Legal Advocacy Fund during 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, and 2001-2002.

Participated in the 4th and later Fellowship Fairs at UT Austin.

Celebrated our 75th year November 15, 1998, at the Driskill Hotel. Everyone wore hats and enjoyed branch history skits. We had most of the living past presidents attending, and many previous members attended and rejoined the branch.

Educational Foundation fundraising included a book signing by Dr Inez C Jeffery as author and Dr Zoya Zarubina as subject of Inside Russia, The Life and Times of Zoya Zarubina. Local scholarship fund raisers included soft drink sales at Laguna Gloria Art Festival and a Fantasy Feast dinner.

Members worked at the Annual Rubber Duck Race to support Austin Community Nursery Schools and helped sell raffle tickets at Highland Mall to support the Children's Advocacy Center in 1999.

Sponsored, in association with Austin Community College, a public forum Austinites Discuss Social Security in 2000.

Completely revised and updated the existing Branch Bylaws in 2000.

Educational Foundation fundraising for 2000 included "Fantasy Concert That Never Was". Local scholarship fundraising included a Games Day Party.

Presented and hosted an hour-long program about AAUW on local access television in 2000.

Led October 2000 rally for "Redistricting and Get Out the Vote".

Tribute to Dr Inez Jeffery, with proceeds going to her Educational Foundation Endowment.

Member represented AAUW on KLRU-TV's "Class of 2012", a town hall type program about teaching and technology.

Hosted the AAUW National Convention 22-26 June 2001.

Received Association grant to AAUW Austin Branch and Lone Star Girl Scout Council for E-PenPal project in 2001.

Completed the Dr Inez Cope Jeffery Educational Foundation Endowment of $35,000 in 2002.

Collaborated with several community organizations in 2002 to host a Woman-to-Woman dialogue on cultural background and identity.

Received Association's Platinum Award for the 21st Century and the Texas International Star in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003.

Began supporting a new Student Affiliate Group at The University of Texas at Austin during 2001-2002.

Received a Community Grant from Association to implement Project GEM in collaboration with Sigma Rho, an African American sorority.

Provided to Fulmore Magnet School Program an academic planner for each student and faculty/staff member for 2002-2003.

Held a Woman-to-Woman dialogue with the Hispanic Women's Network in 2003.

Gave the first "Give a Grad a Gift" to Laura Gladney-Limon in 2003.

Served as volunteers for three fundraising events for the Children's Advocacy Center in 2003.

Member Accomplishments (only a partial list)

Dr Jenny Lind Porter-Scott was elected to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame in 1985.

Dr Connie Yerwood Conner was featured in the Austin American-Statesman's special edition for the Sesquicentennial in 1986.

Life member Onie B Conley was featured in the Austin American-Statesman discussing Reflections of Racism during 1992.

The Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center was named for Onie B Conley in 1992.

Life member Mary Yerwood Thompson was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1995.

During 1996 long time member Dr Inez C Jeffery was honored by the League of Women Voters of the Austin Area in their first Annual Foreign Policy Lecture. She also received the Liz Carpenter Lifetime Achievement Award of Women in Communication International, was honored by the Austin Board of Realtors as Austin's Most Worthy Citizen of 1995, and was honored by the Austin Branch.

Dr Mary Small was named Huston-Tillotson College's exemplary teacher of the year.

Dr Jenny Lind Porter-Scott received an award from the Texas Institute of Letters for her translation of Verses on Death by Helinand of Froidmont.

Catherine Goodwin was honored by Lifetime Learning Institute as one of the founders of LLI in 1977.

Amy Wong Mok was appointed to a 12 person braintrust for KLRU-TV's multi-year initiative, Navigating the Digital Divide.

Rachel Muir was honored by the Austin Under 40 Awards for Youth and Education.

The League of Women Voters held their third Inez Jeffery Lecture on Foreign Policy in October 1999.

Dr Beulah Agnes Curry-Jones was honored in 2003 by the Texas African American Historical Organization with their Dr Lamar Kirven Lifetime Achievement Award for her volunteer work and community service/leadership in music and music education.

AAUW Austin Branch is grateful to the volunteers and corporate sponsors of the Metropolitan Austin Interactive Network (MAIN), who have made this web site possible.

This page was last updated on 23 October 2002.
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