Women Activists and Social Change Organizations
Andrade, Lorena director of La Mujer Obrera see Civil Rights in El Paso under La Mujer Obrera
Armendariz, Mary Lou Ladies LULAC
Barry, Alice P. El Paso County Historical Society Hall of Honor member, "liberated woman" active in many organizations
- El Paso County Historical Society archives: 083-1995-71
- "El Paso County Historical Society Scrapbook 1991-1992
Bernard, Anna Kaufman (Mrs. Morris) (1902-1960) / Lithuanian immigrant who was President of McCall Day Nursery for African American Children and many other organizations.
- helped 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.
Family Service of El Pasostarted as “Ladies Benevolent Association” in 1893. known by various names through the years including Family Welfare Association, Sunshine Day Nursery, Travelers Aid, Pleasant View Home
Boone, Caroline E. director of the Border Office of the National Catholic Welfare Conference before Cleofas Calleros, 1920s.
Cano, Esther Chávez Human rights activist who fought against the crimes against women and children in CIudad Juarez and founder of Casa Amiga.
Carter, Zephyr Chisom founder of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and one of first African American women from El Paso to graduate from college.
Castro, Lucha lawyer, activist in Chihuahua City and Juarez, MX
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 WomenCall Number: EPCC Libraries
ISBN: 0787620688
This resource provides informative biographical profiles of more than 300 Hispanic-American women who have achieved national or international prominence. There is an emphasis on contemporary women, but the work is not limited to living individuals.
de Andrade, Flores 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.
Disrupting SavagismCall Number: UTEP and NMSU libraries (online only)
ISBN: 0822327481
pp. 59-60 are on Flores de Andrade and at this time are available on google books.
de la Vega, Guadalupe Arizpe -- Mexican health care leader in Ciudad Juarez / Founder of FEMAP
- set up Mexican federation of private associations for health & community development in Juarez in 1973 and Hospital de la Familia in Ciudad Juarez
- first Mexican Woman to receive the Woodrow Wilson Award for Philanthropy
- El Paso Herald Post 3/13/97, El Paso Times 2/2/097 1F, El Paso Herald Post 2/20/91 "People to watch"
El Paso Times & El Paso Herald-Post Newspaper ArchiveThis historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. Coverage: 1881 - current.
Dodson, Betty (Elizabeth Jane) activist for teenage mothers in El Paso. See link:
Dodson, Stephanie Karr leader in women and children's issues previous director of Center Against Family Violence
Drury, Kathleen M (later Mrs. Victor Moore) administrator of the Southwestern Children’s Home.
- “My Dearie” died 1979. administrator of the Southwestern Children’s Home, on Altura, after husband’s death in 1939.
- home began 1923 by Rev. Hogg. The home published booklets.
- El Paso Herald Post obit July 7, 1979.
Felix, Carmen southside activist director of Southside Low Income Housing Corp.
- google searches,
- Morales Index
- search older newspaper articles below:
El Paso Times & El Paso Herald-Post Newspaper ArchiveThis historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. Coverage: 1881 - current.
Flood, Maria Elena director of the Regional Academic Health Center, community leader
Fox, Gladys Lundy married to Chris Fox -- active civic worker
Flores, Maria Antonia activist/director of La Mujer Obrera see Civil Rights in El Paso under La Mujer Obrera
Galvan, Soledad "Chole" activist, longtime Sunset Heights award winning resident who was very active in the community and was in the WAAC and trained as a linguist. She declared herself the 1st Hispanic American woman in the U.S Army
Gardner, Helen (Nell) Stanley businesswoman, established first home for elderly, first Pilot Club
Goodman, Mrs. I.B. (Fannie) very active in Lighthouse for the Blind/National Council of Jewish Women.
El Paso Times & El Paso Herald-Post Newspaper ArchiveThis historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. Coverage: 1881 - current.
Gutierrez, Lily immigration activist
Harvey, Maude founded office of Planned Parenthood
Maud Harvey could be combined into an article on the Harvey family's impact on El Paso: Crawford/Charles (founder of El Paso National Bank) and Maud, and their son Paul Harvey and his wife Katharine White Harvey.
Holder, Anne feminist activist and co-founder of the El Paso Rape Crisis Center
Howe, Marie Sheldon (Mrs. Walter D.) Director of Woman's Dept of the Chamber of Commerce, active in politics and civic organizations.
The Woman's Club of El PasoCall Number: EPCC Libraries
ISBN: 0874040612
Publication Date: 1978
Pan American Round Table: pgs 81, 122, 145, 233
Kern, Ruth. Early woman lawyer in El Paso/ ACLU founder follow link below:
Kelly, Elizabeth Hooks first member of Junior League of El Paso, librarian, volunteer
Kohutek, Nancy J. political and women's rights activist
President of the Political Women's Caucus and co-founder of the Transitional Living Center (now Center against Sexual and Family Violence)
Marentes, Alicia co-founder and director of social work for the Border Farmworkers Center
Moreno, Art and Mary Lou co-founders / active in PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and the Border AIDS Partnership
Nixon, Drusilla married to Dr. Lawrence A. Nixon leader in her own right
Nordwald, Rose Konig -- very influential civic leader 1930s-1960s with a wide sphere of influence, advocate of birth control, co founder of Girl Scouting in El Paso
El Paso Times & El Paso Herald-Post Newspaper ArchiveThis historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. Coverage: 1881 - current.
Pan American Round Table See link below:
Rodriguez, Cecilia organizer of La Mujer Obrera see Civil Rights in El Paso under La Mujer Obrera
Sampson, Mrs. Edward president of El Paso Colored Women's Club and co-founder of the El Paso Negro Woman’s Civic and Equal Franchise League
Schuessler, Louise Johnson "Carrie Nation without a hatchet"
as director of the Women's Dept of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce successfully cleared newsstands of pornographic material available to teenagers.
Schwartz, Hedwig Mathias (Mrs. Maurice) 1894-1981
- helped found Lighthouse for the Blind as part of Council of Jewish Women
- El Paso Herald Post Mar 21, 1969 Won an award from the local National Conference of Christians and Jews
El Paso Times & El Paso Herald-Post Newspaper ArchiveThis historical newspaper provides genealogists, researchers and scholars with online, easily-searchable first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. Coverage: 1881 - current.
Valdes Villalva, Maria Guillermina 1939-1991. border / maquiladora scholar and activist.
UTEP Graduate.
Washington, Johnnie Rev. African American activist
Zlabovsky, Fannie Jewish Humanitarian, worked for the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) in El Paso before WWII, helping immigrants escape the Nazis by entering the US from Mexico.
Zuloaga, Deborah longtime director of the United Way of El Paso