ContentsStaffHistory of early TWUWomen’s LeadershipHallThe Lasso staff ’s favoriteinspirational womanWomen in PoliticsWomen on campusWomen with disabilitiesTexas First Ladies34-56-7891011Adviser | Joseph AldermanEditor-in-Chief | Maddie RayEngagement Editor | KarymeFloresGraphic Designer | Stephanie VoStaff Writers | Clarise TujardonEclipse Stark2
The History of Early TWUSince 1901, Texas Woman’sUniversity has empowered andeducated thousands of womenand throughout this history, ademonstrated commitment towomen’s education has beenemphatically expressed.By Maddie Ray“Let our daughters be taught all thelabors necessary to a well-kept,hygienic home and also be trainedto some business… Let us stop theembroidery and piano lessons longenough to send them to a scientificcooking school,” Stoddard said.English, science, painting andphotography courses. In additionto this, women were also giventhe opportunity to take courses inhomemaking and even coursesin predominantly male segmentsof commerce such as the politicaleconomy and commercial law.The University also held weeklylectures open to both studentsand community members on theeconomics of cooking, the care ofthe young, harmful bacteria anddemonstrations of new X-rays.During the turn of the century, malestudents could enroll in academicschools, vocational schools thatprepared teachers, or industrialschools that provided training withinother vocations such as agriculture.In 1877, Texas A&M opened itsdoors to offer an education totrain young men in agriculture andmechanics. Shortly following, TheUniversity of Texas was founded in1883, offering education in literatureand science. The lack of a highereducation industrial school foryoung women was significant andproved to be a point of contention inthe following years.In the beginning, the conversationsfor the Girls Industrial College werehushed whispers in some circlesuntil Texas State Grange andPatrons of Husbandry A.J. Rosebegan advocating for the college,according to Dawn Letson, a formerarchivist who compiled the history ofthe founding of TWU.“Do [girls] not need an industrialcollege, too, where they can receivea practical education which willprepare them for some vocationin life?” Rose said in a speechat the Grange conference in1899 according to journalist NitaThurman.In 1891, the first bill to establisha female industrial school passedin the state Senate but failed inthe state House. Helen Stoddard,President of the Woman’s ChristianTemperance Union, beganadvocating for the school in 1893.Additionally, Pauline Periwinkleof the Dallas Morning News tookup the cause on the grounds thatindustrial training would preventlower-income young women frombecoming prostitutes, which sheargued was the only other moneymakingalternative for lower-incomewomen at the time.Opponents still remained despitethe movement gaining traction. Onepolitician did not want to supportthe bill because it has “femalerights written all over it,” whileanother opponent believed thatwomen did not need to be trained inhomemaking skills, saying “instinctwill make a woman a perfecthousekeeper, a model wife and awise mother.”Finally, in 1900, the TexasDemocratic Party called for anindustrial school for girls and, in1901, the school was approved andplaced in Denton.The beginnings of TWU representedan experiment in educating youngwomen in non-traditional fields.The English, Science and FineArts departments offered traditionalEven the Pioneer Woman broughtcontroversy at TWU. After L.H.Hubbard, president of what wasthen known as the Texas StateCollege for Women, proposed astatue honoring women to be onthe campus, he chose the threedimensionalplaster model ofa pioneer family that New Yorksculptor William Zorach submitted.They were thick-bodied and nude,causing a chapter of the Daughtersof the Republic of Texas to say itwas “the greatest insult that couldbe offered to these women whobelieved and practiced the virtue ofmodesty.”Zorach attempted to change thedesign to one with lightly drapedfigures, but the commissionultimately chose Leo Friedlander’smodel, which depicted a sturdywoman.The early history of TWU wasmarked with hesitancy because ofits dedication to women, but it wasalso notably progressive for its time,providing women with valuableeducation in the career fields mostavailable at the time, a legacy theuniversity continues to this day.3
Change language