In 1997 the Center for the Study of Women and Gender (CSWG) and the Archives for Research on Women and Gender (ARWG) initiated an oral history project to go along with that year's Women's History Week then, which was "Telling Our Stories/Contando Nuestras Historias." Utilizing an advisory board , the CSWG and ARWG chose a select number of San Antonio women who have made significant contributions to the community.
CSWG contact was Linda Schott, Director. ARWG contact was Jill Jackson, Archivist. Interviews were conducted by Ruthe Winegarten, oral historian and author, and Tori Beckham-Wilson, historian and author.
The collection consists of correspondence, biographical information, release forms, oral history recordings on audiocassette and interview transcripts.
The interviews were conducted February-July of 1997.
Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Some use copies are available in the collection.
This collection is housed at UTSA's Main Campus and must be accessed via the John Peace Library Special Collections reading room. To request access, please use the
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
Received from Archives for Research on Women and Gender in 1997-1998.
More detailed processing is not anticipated at this time.
When available, electronic versions (PDF) of the interview transcripts have been provided.
In order to read and print the PDF document, you may need to download and install the free
University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections maintains the following related collections:
UTSA's Institute of Texan Culture's Library has an oral history interview with Lillian Dunlap
[Identification of item], Archives for Research on Women and Gender Project, MS 317, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections.
In 1991 Aguirre, an AIDS activist, founded the Mujeres Project to provide a place where women of all cultures could obtain information and services involving HIV and family planning choices.
Topics: AIDS activism. Interview by Tori Beckman-Wilson.
Retired social worker and community activist. The first African American professional hired at the San Antonio State Hospital (1965). Ms. Austin gained national recognition in 1984 when she received the Social Worker of the Year award for her accomplishments in the profession.
Topics: social work; discrimination. Interviewed by Tori Beckman-Wilson.
Attorney and lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. The first African American to graduate from St. Mary's University Law School, San Antonio, TX (1956) and the first African American woman to practice law in Bexar County, TX. Topics: Wiley College in Marshall, TX; career; childhood; St. Mary’s Law School.
Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
The first woman mayor of a major Texas city, Cockrell served as Mayor of San Antonio, Texas for three terms (1975-1981); member of San Antonio City Council from 1964-1972; Director of Development, San Antonio.
Topics: Women and politics; Mayor of San Antonio. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Nurse; Retired Brigadier General, Army. Only the second woman to become a general officer in the Army’s history; the first Texas woman to attain the status of brigadier general; inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame; Instrumental in founding the Army Medical Department Museum at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
Topics: Women and the military; Army Medical Department Museum Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Rosita Fernandez, a long time San Antonian and pioneer of Tejano music, gained international fame as a recording artist and for performances on film, television, radio, and stage. Her career began in the 1920s and spanned over 60 years.
Topics: career; women and music. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Member, Woman’s Club; businesswoman.
Topics: Woman’s Club of San Antonio. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Born in 1894, Hoyle-Gayden tells of her experience growing up and living in Texas as an African American. She began teaching in the 1920s, worked for the Republican Party, and was a civic activist.
Topics: National Council of Negro Women; political and social activism. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Civic activist (children’s and human rights issues)
Topics: Biographical information, volunteer and cancer work. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Artist, animal rights activist.
Topics: Career as artist, writer; San Antonio community; animal rights. Interviewed by Tori Beckman-Wilson.
Retired Judge; community volunteer.
Topics: Family law, politics in San Antonio, career. Interviewed by Tori Beckman-Wilson.
Human rights activist; Executive Director, Esperanza Center.
Topics: Progressive activism in San Antonio. Interviewed by Tori Beckman-Wilson.
Civic activist (water issues); first woman elected director and Bexar County chair of the Edwards Underground Water District (1983-1989); first woman to serve on the Board of Health in San Antonio; former president of San Antonio Chapter of the League of Women Voters (1947).
Topics: Water issues; League of Women Voters. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Texas State Supreme Court Judge.
Topics: Women and the legal profession; Texas Supreme Court; career. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.
Member, Woman’s Club; businesswoman.
Topics: Woman’s Club of San Antonio. Interviewed by Ruthe Winegarten.