100-Year History of
The San Antonio Texas Branch
American Association of University Women
For more information please consult Those Amazing Women, a limited edition history of the
San Antonio Branch from 1908-2008, by Mynda Holman McGuire, printed in April, 2008
The San Antonio Branch was organized in 1908, and possibly earlier. Its charter as a
branch of the Southern Association of College Women was received January 9, 1909.
The Southern Association of College Women, founded in July 1903 at the University of
Tennessee, was an important predecessor of the current American Association of
University Women. In 1908-1909, the officers of the San Antonio Branch were
President, Mrs. Jean McGrath Russ; Vice-President, Miss Emily Maverick; and
Secretary/Treasurer, Mrs. Carrie Bertha Pfeifer Brown. Mrs. Brown became the second
president from 1910-1911 and again served as president in 1931-1933, and 1937-1939.
She was also president of the Texas Division of AAUW during the war years of 19411943. Her remarkable life (1886-1977) is summarized in the Handbook of Texas
online at http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/fbrvc.html.
Our third president (1911-1912) was Miss Eula Weston Deaton, a native of Mississippi
who came to San Antonio about 1907 or 1908 to teach high school. She was already a
member of the Southern Association of College Women and was serving on its board
while president of this branch. It was most likely that it was Miss Deaton’s influence that
got this branch started. She was one of the first graduates in 1889 of the Industrial
Institute and College (now the Mississippi University for Women). Later, she earned the
first master’s ever awarded a woman at the University of Mississippi. She taught there
and was their first Dean of Women. On the campus of Ole Miss there is a building
named for her: Eula Deaton Hall. In San Antonio, she and others in the early years
wanted to start a state organization and sent letters to other college women in Texas.
Mrs. Brown, our second president, is often quoted as saying, “The beginnings of the
Texas Division of AAUW was formed in my living room.” Research has turned up the
accuracy of that statement…but it was many years before it actually came about in
Dallas, in 1926.
A 1910 statement from a report to the Southern Association of College Women reads:
“Many letters have been written to college women throughout the state, and we believe
that before another year has passed, we shall organize several new branches in Texas.
Respectfully submitted, Mrs. Jean McGrath Russ, President [and] Mrs. Carrie Pfeifer
Brown, Secretary-Treasurer.”
In 1921 the Southern Association of College Women united with the Association of
Collegiate Alumnae and the name was changed to the American Association of
University Women. A group of 17 women met in Boston in the fall of 1881 to discuss
forming an alumnae organization of women college graduates. As a result the
Association of Collegiate Alumnae was formally organized in January 1882. In 1889 the
Western Association of College Alumnae united with this group. So the AAUW began
with 17 bold women who came together to unite alumnae of their institutions for practical
educational work. Here in San Antonio it was a group of about 20 women, who formed
this branch for the same reasons, under the auspices of the Southern Association of
College Women
In 1926, San Antonio was a charter branch when AAUW Texas was organized in Dallas.
At the time the state organizations were called Divisions. The state organization is the
backbone that supports all of the Texas branches. We would not be as effective as a
branch without the guidance, support and leadership of AAUW Texas. In recent years,
three members of the San Antonio Branch have served as Texas AAUW Presidents:
Helen Oujesky, Malinda Gaul and Linda Conger. Earlier, Division Presidents from this
branch were: Miss Gladys Morgan, Mrs. Carrie Brown and Mrs. Catherine Pedlar.
Also, in 1926, the San Antonio Branch offered financial support to the new University
Junior College in San Antonio. The University of Texas had established a junior college
in San Antonio in 1925. However, in its second year of existence, the University
withdrew its financial support from the junior college. The San Antonio Branch
executive board, led by its President, Miss Emma Gutzeit, called on the city leaders,
promising $10,000 to keep the junior college open. A few years later, the San Antonio
Board of Education was tasked with the care of the junior college organization. But in
May of 1926 the Superintendent of Education reported to his board that “the local
organization of the American Branch of University Women (San Antonio Branch of the
American Association of University Women, it turns out) has offered to help the work of
the junior college for the ensuing year and to underwrite any difference (deficit).” This
information is taken from the book, “San Antonio College In the Beginning...1925-1956”
by Jerome F. Weynand, and several articles appearing in the San Antonio Express.
The Branch’s Interest Groups have always enhanced the richness of the AAUW
experience. Women of the branch have long come together to share their interests. Book
Review is probably the oldest of the Study Groups. Earliest mention of it is in the
newspaper dated March 7, 1931. The Historic Southwest group is one the oldest of our
current interest groups. Mrs. Elizabeth Dickson, President of the San Antonio Branch in
1939-40, founded the group. Each year this group makes a donation to a historical
landmark or a society dedicated to preservation. The members also make a Christmas
donation to a local charity. The University Women’s Garden Club, a long-time interest
group, was also founded in 1939. Their members donate handmade items each year at
Christmas to a local hospital. They also assist with garden therapy at local nursing
homes, and donate articles to the Battered Women’s home. For the past eight years the
garden club has purchased, designed and donated the floral centerpieces for the annual
“Breaking the Glass Ceiling” event that is the branch’s primary fund raiser. The San
Antonio Branch also has a book discussion group, a theatre group, a “Great Decisions”
series studying public affairs issues, a “Chat and Chew,” and several bridge groups.
Three members of the San Antonio Branch established endowments for AAUW
scholarships in their wills: Mildred Magee, Irma Gesche and Jean Longwith. The
interest from these endowment accounts help fund the branch’s local, graduate
scholarships for women. These scholarships are awarded annually at the branch meeting
in May. Part of the money raised at the annual Educational Foundation fundraiser is also
used for local scholarships.
In the past, from 1969 to 2000 the branch’s primary fund raiser was a Book Fair held
each February. It involved many hours of volunteer work, that eventually became very
difficult as the membership aged.
So, in 2001 the branch began it’s “Breaking the Glass Ceiling,” brunches or luncheons.
A local woman, who has broken the glass ceiling, is honored, along with most years an
organization that has provided a climate that encourages women to aim for, and break
that proverbial glass ceiling. This past year the branch honored a woman who owns a
large construction business.
In the last decade, the graduate scholarships have been increased from $1,000 to $2,000
each.. In 2007 the branch awarded nine $2,000 graduate scholarships, and four $500
each book scholarships. For 2008 there were six $2,000 graduate scholarships, one
transition scholarship of $2,000 to take a woman from a two-year institution to a four
year college or university. Also, eight $500 book scholarships were awarded.
In addition, in both years the branch supported both the Educational Foundation and the
Legal Advocacy Fund. In 2007 it was $7, 289 for EF and $3,510 for LAF. Totals for
2008 have not yet been tallied.
Looking back to that 1910 report to the Southern Association of College Women, it read:
“Our branch has been busy investigating social settlement work, and in connection with
this we have made an interesting study of some of the modern dramas that deal with
sociological conditions. A program for the year was arranged. Meetings were held the
1st Saturday in each month, when some able lecturer gave us the help of her experience.”
The San Antonio Branch meeting is still on the first Saturday of the month. Most of the
time it is a luncheon at a restaurant, although we also hold new Membership events that
are in the evening and are at no or low cost to the members.
The 1910 report continued with further description of the branch activities. “This branch
has become affiliated with the Kindergarten and also the Playground Association, and is
taking a live interest in the recently organized Free Clinic. Our members do all they can
as individuals to aid these organizations and each week two of them teach in a sewing
class for girls. We have pledged our aid toward securing a compulsory education law and
in all matters pertaining to the schools and youth of San Antonio.”
The San Antonio Branch continues the traditions begun in 1908-1909. In the past the
branch supported the Expand Your Horizons Career Conference in science and math for
girls in grades six through 12 held at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2003
members volunteered to speak at a career day event at a local school. In 2004, one of our
members, Dr. Linda Vargas-Lew requested the support of our branch in mentoring young
Hispanic girls at the elementary school level. These girls have been identified as at risk
to drop out before completing high school. Several of our members responded to serve as
mentors.
In the Public Policy area the branch has also been active. Two of the World War II
efforts were to help pay the living costs for refugee women scholars living in England,
and the acceptance of English children in their San Antonio homes for the duration.
More recently, they have sponsored a Get Out the Vote event that involved canvassing an
entire precinct in south San Antonio, identified as traditionally having a low voter turn
out. The branch worked first to register voters, and then returning to the precinct with
League of Women Voters hang tags, telling them where to go vote. Turnout increased
from about 26 to nearly 500 in the next election.
Another example involved two judicial candidate events where the public was invited to
meet and talk with all those running for the office of Judge in Bexar county.
Approximately 25 candidates talked with more than 200 at each event. And, with other
women’s organizations, the branch sponsored a public lecture by Richard Kimball,
President of Project Vote Smart, a nationally-known organization that provides factual,
non-biased information about national political candidates.
Women today have a wide range of opportunities and activities to choose from, in part
due to the success of AAUW’s efforts to advance equity for women and girls through
advocacy, education and research. But since our work is not completed, we will still
continue our efforts to expand opportunities and equity for women. There is still a
gender inequity in pay, and women are underrepresented in the science, math and
computer science fields, and violence against women continues to be a huge problem.
The Legal Advocacy Fund is still needed to help women fight discrimination in the
workplace in higher education. This branch will continue its work that began in the early
part of the last century.
San Antonio AAUW Branch Past Presidents
Mrs. Jean McGrath Russ
Mrs. Carrie Pfeiffer Brown
Miss Eula Deaton
Miss Gladys Morgan
Mrs. Marion Bliem (later Goebel)
Mrs. Blanch Berry Savage
Miss Ruth Muir
Mrs. Kathrine Holms Meek
Miss Elizabeth West
Miss Gladys Morgan
Miss Pauline Murrah
Miss Pearl West
Mrs. George L. Abbott
1909-1910
1910-1911
1911-1912
1912-1913
1913-1914
1914-1915
1915-1916
1916-1917
1917-1918
1918-1919
1919-1920
1920-1921
1921-1922
Miss Mildred Harrigan
Miss Ora Johnson
Miss Emma Gutzeit
Miss Gladys Morgan
Mrs. Blanch Berry. Savage
Mrs. A.A. Brown
Miss Frances Smith
Mrs. Thomas B. Portwood
Mrs. Ida Mae Murray
Mrs. A.A. Brown
Mrs. Elizabeth Dickson
Mrs. Catherine Pedlar
Mrs. Horace W. Townsend
Dr. Ava Josephine McAmis
Miss Maude B. Davis
Miss Mary V. Douglass
Mrs. Lois Tamborello
Dr. Doris Cook (Mrs. W.R.)
Miss Nancy Lou McCallum
Mrs. J. Frank Ruskin
Mrs. M.C. Manger
Mrs. Virginia Stone
Miss Ona Marschall
Mrs. Hazel Buchanan Nelson
Mrs. A.J. Hague
Mrs. Joseph Schiebout
Mrs. Virginia Albert
Mrs. Virginia M. Creed
Mrs. Ben W. Hedges
Miss Mary Frances Sweeney
Mrs. Martha Tarpley
Mrs. George J. Lee
Mrs. Virginia Stein
Mrs. Edna S. McGaffey
Miss Jean M. Longwith
Mrs. Maedean Hamilton
Dr. Mary Andree Tokoly
Dr. Helen Oujesky
Mrs. Clara Jane Almstead
Dr. Juanita B. Felder
Mrs. Nadine H. McGee
Dr. Virginia E. McGary
Mrs. Lucy T. Gomez
Mrs. Evelyn C. Reed
Dr. Peggy M. Peterson
Miss Orrine Woinowsk
1922-1923
1923-1925
1925-1917
1927-1929
1929-1931
1931-1933
1933-1934
1934-1936
1936-1937
1937-1939
1939-1941
1941-1942
1942-1943
1943-1945
1945-1947
1947-1949
1949-1950
1950-1951
1951-1952
1952-1954
1954-1956
1956-1958
1958-1960
1960-1962
1962-1963
1963-1965
1965-1967
1967-1968
1968-1970
1970-1972
1972-1974
1974-1976
1976-1978
1978-1980
1980-1982
1982-1983
1983-1985
1985-1987
1987-1989
1989-1991
1991-1993
1993-1995
1995-1997
1997-1999
1999
1999-2001
Ms. Mynda Holman McGuire
Mrs. Carol J. Lahser
Dr. Deborah Valdez
Ms. Malinda Gaul
Dr. Cheryl Davis
`
2001-2003
2003-2005
2005-2006
2006-2008
2008-2009
Past Division Presidents from the San Antonio Branch:
Mrs. Carrie Pfeiffer (A.A.) Brown, Miss Gladys Morgan, and
Mrs. Catherine (Marvin J.) Pedlar
Past AAUW Texas Presidents from the San Antonio Branch:
Dr. Helen Oujesky, Mrs. Malinda Gaul and Mrs. Linda Conger