A Guide to the Texas Women's Alliance Records, 1984-1995

Historical Note

The Texas Women's Alliance (TWA) is a women's organization that researches issues, makes policy recommendations, and works to influence government, with a focus on Texas affairs. Formed in 1984, the founders of the TWA believed there was a need for an organization to represent conservative and business-oriented women. The organization is non-partisan, welcoming conservatives regardless of party affiliation. It became a non-profit corporation in 1985.

The TWA attempts to recruit women who are professional, business and civic leaders; its activities include conducting seminars and conferences on issues, publishing position papers, and testifying before Texas Senate and House committees. They study and recommend policy on the state budget, economic growth, international trade, U.S.–Mexico relations, tax reform, judicial selection, public schools and higher education. The organization has endorsed merit election of judges and opposed the policy of comparable worth (pay equity).

Between 1987 and 1994, members of the Texas Women's Alliance traveled overseas on trade and fact-finding missions, aiming to find new markets for Texas businesses and to promote economic expansion for Texas.

The first meeting of the organization was held in Dallas on December 9, 1984, at the home of U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. According to TWA member Billie Pickard, the group's founders were motivated by the experience of "going through a presidential election where numerous liberal and single interest groups had purported to speak for women..." The group was launched publicly in October 1985 by its chairwoman, Anne L. Armstrong, a former U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, and by former San Antonio Mayor Lila Cockrell.

In 1985, a main office was set up in Austin, and local groups were created in cities across the state. Funding for the organization and its events has come from membership fees and from personal and corporate contributions. Cohesion is maintained in the organization by a networking system that includes retreats, encampments, a newsletter and a directory of members.

Sources: Pickard, Billie., "How, Why, When & Where: History of TWA, Part 1."Texas Women's Alliance Newsletter. Austin, Texas: January 1991. Folder 6:3, Texas Women's Alliance Records, 1984-1995, MS 11, Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library

Scope and Content Note

The Texas Women's Alliance Records document the history of the organization from its founding in December 1984 to 1995. The collection also documents and reveals the political views of the conservative Texas women politicians who belonged to the organization; these included: Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; former Texas Senator and County Judge, Cyndi Taylor Krier; former ambassador Anne L. Armstrong; and former San Antonio mayor, Lila Cockrell. Material in the collection concerning these individuals is not extensive, however; it is limited to a small number of photographs, news clippings, biographies and résumés. The records are divided into four series: Administrative, Committees, Events, and Issue Files.

The Administrative series includes meeting minutes, press releases, organization bylaws, budget, and tax records. There are also résumés, biographies and photographs of numerous board members, as well as correspondence and memoranda revealing the thoughts and actions of the founding members as they first began organizing in 1984-1985.

The Committee Records series includes reports, position papers on issues, news clippings, the Texas Women's Alliance Newsletter, and membership directories, which include member names, addresses, occupations, and areas of expertise. The series also documents the group's trade and fact-finding missions to Spain and Japan (1987), Switzerland (1988), Eastern Europe (1991), Mexico (1992) and Canada (1994).

The Events series documents the Texas Women's Alliance's conferences, seminars, encampments and retreats. The conferences covered issues such as strengthening the Texas economy, international trade, public education reform, higher education, criminal justice, U.S.–Mexico relations, and pay equity. Conference material includes transcripts of proceedings, press coverage, correspondence regarding organizing the conferences, and publicity material. The series also includes files on events to bestow awards created by the TWA. Of note is the 1987 award of the Distinguished Service Award to Cyndi Taylor Krier; the files include photographs of this affair. The series also includes files on events to bestow awards created by the TWA.

The Issue Files, including newspaper clippings, reports, newsletters, pamphlets and other publications encompasses background information collected by TWA members, concerning issues they were studying. Issues include: Pay Equity, Public Schools, Teacher Certification, Higher Education, Home Equity Loan legislation, Tax Equity, U.S.–Mexico Trade, and Women in Politics.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Researchers must wear gloves provided by the Archives when handling photographic materials. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on these materials.

Usage Restrictions

Permission to publish material from the Texas Women's Alliance Records must be obtained from the UTSA Archives.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Texas Women's Alliance Records, 1984-1995, MS 11, Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.

Acquisition Information

The materials in this collection were donated by Texas Women's Alliance member Candye Bartos, on behalf of the Texas Women's Alliance, on December 15, 1995 (Acc. 1995-005).

Processing Information

Processed by Kassandra Green, History Student, August 2004 and Paul Washington, Archives Intern, June 2005.

Detailed Description of the Collection