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List of Women in El Paso History

• More details and links to sources on many of these women is available online at http://www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/topics/women.htm.   It includes a list of potential subjects that are more difficult to research.
• Note details that might seem insignificant at first glance, in case one finds other information later. 
• Women's information is often 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. 
• See Good Sources for information on women in El Paso's History  Other topics for research (on men, businesses, topics, etc. can be found on our Potential Topics page.

Acosta, Lucy LULAC organizer  (sources in online full version)

*Alarcon, Francisca "Paca" 1836-1925 wealthy powerful Chihuahuan widow who moved to El Paso.  (sources in online full version)

Alexander, Birdie leader in musical activities in El Paso 1913-1960.  Handbook of Texas Online

Apodaca, Felicitas Activist, poster mom for El Paso Planned Parenthood...later active in CA. (sources in online full version)

Armendariz, Mary Lou Ladies LULAC --  Institute of Oral History interview no. 720 (25 page transcript and tape at UTEP Special Collections Dept. )

Armstong, Mrs. O.H.  El Paso's premier woman golfer 1920s-1930s.  First woman to play in a men's tournament 1935. (sources in online full version)

*Ayoub, Zacchia Jabalie Syrian Lebanese.  1930 Built Border Tobacco -- started a million dollar  business by selling candy from a truck. (sources in online full version)

Azar, Suzie (Suzanne) -- former Mayor of El Paso, elected 1989.  Woman aviator. (sources in online full version)

Bernard, Anna Aufman (1902-1960) Guiding force for creating prototype for today's day care centers. (sources in online full version)

Berry, Cleola L. Hall of Fame member -- considered as a name for a new school in EPISD  Why?

Bishop, Ida, Dr.  First woman to practice medicine in Texas.  (sources in online full version)

Bloss, Margaret Varner holder of the US and All-England badminton titles.  El Paso Athletic Hall of Fame in 1956. (sources in online full version)

Briones, Dolores   former El Paso County Judge, native El Pasoan Chicanas in Texas Politics

* Brown,Heidi   First woman to command an air defense artillery brigade  (sources in online full version)

Brown, Kate Moore  (Mrs. William R) EP’s first music teacher in the public schools. 1890-1899. (sources in online full version)

Bucher, Anne 1892-1973  Prominent El Paso businesswoman active in cultural and civic life. (sources in online full version)

Calisher, Ada   J. Calisher Dry Goods Co, 1881-1912, ran boarding house.  First superintendent of  Hebrew Sunday School (sources in online full version)

* Carvahlo, Eloisa  with her partner worked as a vice detective in the 1930s -- not in Password, spec collections,

Chacon, Alicia  in 1990 elected the first female and first Mexican-American County Judge for El Paso County (sources in online full version)

Chew, Herlinda Chinese El Pasoan immigrant activist/ grocery store owner/expert in immigration issues in the 1920s-30s.  (sources in online full version)

Clark, Fannie Echols (Mrs. Leigh) second president of the EP Woman's club and one of the public library's first directors (sources in online full version)

Cotera, Martha P.  civil rights activist, historian educator. 1938-  (sources in online full version)

Daughtry, Barbara Jean  banker -- UTEP Spec Coll MS 447 2 page biog info

Davis, Alice James African American principal North Loop Elementary School -- exemplary school. (sources in online full version)

De Avila, Dolores  Innovative Principal of Ysleta Elem School working with EPISO (El Paso Inter-Religious Sponsoring Org)

Deckert, Myrna -- former executive director of El Paso YWCA. (sources in online full version)

Deuell, Henrietta (pseud Peggy Hull) first accredited woman war correspondent reported on Mexican Revolution (sources in online full version)

Dietrich, Louise Nurse administrator, opened hospital in El Paso, prominent in nursing education.

Domestic workers in El Paso  (sources in online full version)

* Dowell, Juana Marquez tigua indian, daughter of tribal chief, Wife of Ben Dowell  (sources in online full version)

Elliot, Caroline Stras -- First female bank officer, retired in 1978 as senior VP of operations at the Bank of El Paso. (sources in online full version)

Escajeda, Josefina 1893-1981  One of the first Mexican American women folklorists in the 20th century (sources in online full version)

*Fairley, Carrie vice detective from 1930s, linked with Eloisa Carvahlo  (sources in online full version)

Faudoa, Rita 1887-   early El Pasoan, granddaughter of Francisca Alarcon, 25 yrs assistant to obstetricians  in EP.   (sources in online full version)

Flood, Maria Elena 

Flores de Andrade early Mexican activist, moved with Pedro Mendoza (member of the PLM) to El Paso in 1906.  (sources in online full version)

Fox, Josephine Clardy, philanthropist, major donor to UTEP.  Fox Recital Hall is named after her. 

Garrett, Elizabeth daughter of legendary sheriff Pat Garrett, blind, song writer wrote NM's state song.  (sources in online full version)

Glasgow, Octavia Magoffin  last resident of the Magoffin house,  granddaughter of Joseph and Octavia Magoffin (sources in online full version)

Goetting, Helen Mary (Mrs. Charles A.) started El Paso Planned Parenthood Association.  Friends with Margaret Sanger (sources in online full version)

Guerrero, Rosa Well known folkloric dancer.  (sources in online full version) NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS A RESEARCH TOPIC for ENGL 1302

Harris, Polly councilwoman

*Hart, Juana Siqueiros  wife of Simeon Hart (mill owner, pioneer, etc.)

Harvey Girls/Harvey Restaurant  (sources in online full version)

Hill, Frances member of pioneer Black family (sources in online full version)

Houchen, Rose Gregory   created settlement house (sources in online full version).

Jones, Harriott Howze. (Mrs. H. Crampton)  father was major general at Fort Bliss, she writes lots of articles on historic houses for Password   . 

Kohlberg, Olga (sources in online full version) NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS A RESEARCH TOPIC for ENGL 1302

Lea, Sarah Dighton wife of Tom Lea, artist.  El Paso Women's Hall of Fame member

Machuca, Esther Nieto (1895-1980) Ladies organizer general LULAC 1938-1939  (sources in online full version)

* 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.  wife of Joseph Magoffin(sources in online full version)

* Manso Indian women  (sources in online full version)

McCormick, Pat  First Texas woman bullfighter el Paso/Juarez.  (sources in online full version)

Mendez, Virginia -- first policewoman 1911-1923.

Mexican Women spouses of early Anglo settlers  -- See Hart, Mills, and Stephenson and others

Mills, Mary Hamilton   started EP Woman's club in 1894  (sources in online full version)

Monticone, Evie in El Paso Softball Hall of Fame member

Moore, Kathleen (M (Mrs. Victor)   administrator of the Southwestern Children’s Home, on Altura, (sources in online full version)

Mora, Pat author, leading advocate for multicultural education and family literacy

Mundy, Mrs. LL   organized the EP Chapter of the League of Women Voters.  (sources in online full version)

Nagley, Mrs. J.E.   first woman embalmer of El Paso (sources in online full version)

Offutt, Jean spokeswoman for Ft. Bliss

Olivares, Graciela administrator Community Services Administration, active in women's movement, Chicano movement. (sources in online full version)

Orndorff, Mama De:  builder of the Cortez Hotel buried in Concordia (sources in online full version)

Pan American Round Table Cross border meetings of women to promote better understanding. (sources in online full version)

Patterson, Lydia  1906 began home mission society that became Lydia Patterson Institute, educating young Mexicans (sources in online full version)

Ponsford, Dr. Pearl Olive.  Professor of English at College of Mines, president of the AAUW (sources in online full version)

Principals, Women   see Gorbutt, Catherine, Arrington, Empress and Eunice Reading Payne

Radford School for Girls (sources in online full version)

Renteria, Prisciliana Torres, 1901-   in 1982 "El Paso Celebrates Her Women"  ASARCO employee began Methodist Church (sources in online full version)

Rivera, Guadalupe celebrated judge on 8th Court of Appeals (sources in online full version)

Robles, Belen  U.S. Customs inspector, first and only female president the League of United Latin American Citizens (sources in online full version)

Seamon, Mrs. Frank H. in 1923 started what would become the Women’s Auxiliary of UTEP (sources in online full version)

Serna, Jenny  responsible for starting process to save the Socorro Mission in 1973led to the Mission Heritage Assoc. (sources in online full version)

Schuessler, Louise Johnson (Mrs. Willard) "Carrie Nation without a hatchet"  cleared newsstands of pornography (sources in online full version)

Stanton, Mary I.  founded EP Public library 1895.  dec 4, 1899 (sources in online full version)

*Stephenson, Juana Maria Ascarate de  First woman settler, wife of Hugh Stephenson who owned and founded Concordia. (sources in online full version)

Sullivan, Maud Durlin Hall of Honor 1962, first librarian  (sources in online full version)

Thomas, Bula   1887-  Correspondent for El Paso Times, married to the "Father of White Sands" in Alamogordo.  perhaps interesting?    NMSU archives

Trambley, Estela Portillo -- pioneer Chicana playwright , ironically better known outside her home town of El Paso (sources in online full version)

Tripp, Mary.  involved in founding the Houchen Settlement House (sources in online full version)

Turner, Sue Cardwell  founder of US Border Patrol Museum  (sources in online full version)

Urrea, Teresa  revolutionary and curandera (sources in online full version)

UTEP, history of women (sources in online full version)

Villalobos, Robbie Myrick  journalist and actress 1954-2004  (sources in online full version)

War Mothers Association  El Paso County Historical Society: 096-2003-001 through 096-2003-004 and 079-2003-055 through 079-2003-060-B

Wardy, Lorraine  entrepreneur/businesswoman (sources in online full version)

Washington, Johnnie Rev.  past NAACP El Paso President, many honors.

Washington, Leona. Conquistador Award recipient, community educator and leader,  director of McCall Community Center (sources in online full version)

Webb, Mary  African American woman who donated land to a segregated city of the 1940s so that black kids would have a park.

*Welch, Mabel C. first woman architect and first woman builder in El Paso (sources in online full version)

* White, Thelma valedictorian 1954 class Douglass School, first black student admitted to an all-white Texas University. (sources in online full version)

Windle, Janice Woods writer, head of El Paso Community Foundation.  largely responsible for reopening the Plaza Theater

Wolfe, Jan  El Paso Playhouse and Kids-n-Co director El Paso Hall of Fame member

Woman's Auxiliary Corps (later known as the Woman's Army Corps) headquartered here from 1944-1946  (sources in online full version)

GOOD SOURCES 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.

A Walk in the Sun: The 66 Year History of the El Paso Branch AAUW -- on reserves at NW and other local libraries

"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

The list of  El Paso Women's Hall of Fame members might be an interesting place to start in your detective work!

 

 

page compiled by Rachel Murphree
Questions?  Email Rachel at murphree@elp.rr.com

Last updated 06/30/2009

Borderlands is published annually by El Paso Community College, P.O. Box 20500, El Paso, TX 79998.

It is a collection of student written articles on the history & culture of the El Paso, Juárez, Las Cruces border region, comprising the states of Texas, New Mexico, and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.   This site was created with seed money from the Integrating Technical Contexts into Academic Courses (ITAC) Project, and maintained by the Northwest Community Library staff. 

Funds for the program were provided by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under the auspices of the federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998.  

Ruth Vise, English Professor and Borderlands Project Director, EPCC
Monica Wong, Website Project Coordinator, Head Librarian,  Northwest Community Library,  EPCC
Joe Old, Technical Consultant, ITAC Project
Mary Sarber,  Lorely Ambriz, and Library Staff.
Rachel Murphree, web weaver

Copyright  2001-2009 El Paso Community College.