2. “Her name was Henrietta Booth. Born and
reared in Tennessee, "Etta,“ as she was known
to family and friends, was visiting her sister in
Cooper when she met the young schoolmaster
from Kentucky. Apparently the mutual
attraction registered quickly, for Miss Booth
extended her visit and then accepted William's
offer to teach music at his school. Having been
educated at Hamilton Seminary and
Shelbyville Female College in Tennessee, and
at the Cincinnati Music Conservatory, Etta was
well qualified to become an instructor in East
Texas Normal College. But teaching was not
the only role she was to play in
William's world; on June 24, 1891, the two were
married” (Reynolds 4).
“2_Etta Booth Mayo, Circa 1895.” Mayo Family Collection.
Historic ET Collection. Northeast Texas Digital Collections.
James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M University-Commerce.
1895.
3. “Bright, vivacious, strong willed, filled with a
zest for life, a special love for art and for
music, and a driving vision for what life
should be” (Goodwin xi).
She was very empathetic and sensitive
which led to many difficulties and hard
feelings regarding the political
atmosphere in Cooper,Texas. Many of
William Mayo’s decisions regarding his
family and school were based upon the
sensitivities of Mrs. Mayo.
“2_Etta Booth Mayo, Circa 1895.” Mayo Family Collection.
Historic ET Collection. Northeast Texas Digital Collections.
James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M University-Commerce.
1895.
4. MAYO’S COLLEGE: THE ORIGINAL COOPER
CAMPUS
“‘The macabre sight, carried out in a circus-like
atmosphere before a howling mob, seems to have
horrified the sensitive Mrs. Mayo; her daughter
Gladys later said:‘Perhaps it was this incident as
much as anything else that led my father to move her
as quickly as possible’.” (Linck 6).
After only a few short years of marriage and
working at the original Cooper campus, there was a
public hanging in the town square, which was visible
from Mr. Mayo’s school.
“Original Cooper Campus.” Historic ET Collection.
Northeast Texas Digital Collections. James G. Gee Library.
Texas A&M University-Commerce. 1890.
5. THE MOVE TO COMMERCE
“At eight o'clock on the morning of
September 3, 1894, East Texas
Normal
College reopened its doors in a
rented store on Main Street…William
L. Mayo and his wife, Etta, comprised
the entire faculty on that important
day” (Reynolds 5-6).
Eventually the townspeople of
Commerce came up with idea and
money to help Mr. and Mrs. Mayo
with the land to start building their
school building.“Farmers crowd Commerce square on a Saturday, 1892” photo. Professor
Mayo's College:A History of East Texas State University by Donald E. Reynolds.
Commerce: East Texas State U. P., 1993. 5. Northeast Texas Digital Collections.
Web. 30 Jan. 2014.
6. THE GROWING FACULTY
As time passed the school, faculty and
student body grew. Mr. and Mrs. Mayo took it
upon themselves to not only instruct these
students but actually make an impact on their
lives.
“Faculty Photograph 1902.” Historic ET Collection. Northeast Texas Digital Collections.
James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M University-Commerce. 1902.
7. “It was here that my parents gathered their students in a ‘reading circle’ on Sunday
afternoons, were they were introduced to the plays of Shakespeare…..
…As children, we listened attentively to the roles read by our parents” (Mayo 4)
“Group Portrait, Circa Early 1900s.” Historic ET Collection. Northeast Texas Digital
Collections. James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M University-Commerce. Circa 1900s.
8. Due to her many friends and
connections in the music and art
industry, she was able to bring many
big names to the college in support
of her musical education department.
“Long a member of the Music Teachers
National Association, she kept pace with
new developments….She never lost contact
with the educators and artist-musicians
whom she met at the conventions” (Mayo 3).
“Annual Spring Music Festival Postcard.” Historic ET Collection.
Northeast Texas Digital Collections. James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M
University-Commerce. 1909.
9. The political and social atmosphere even
in Commerce concerned her.There were
too many saloons that needed to be dealt
with, to help her combat this issue she
sought outside help.
“My mother appealed to Francis E.
Willard, Director of the Temperance
Movement in the U.S….Their
correspondence lent hope and
inspiration to my parents and to the
townspeople”
–Gladys Mayo (Mayo 6).
Etta Booth Mayo became not only a
beacon of hope and example for music,
the arts and education but she also
challenged existing social and political
ideas.
“3_Etta Booth Mayo in Concert Gown, 1906.” Mayo
Family Collection. Historic ET Collection. Northeast
Texas Digital Collections. James G. Gee Library.
Texas A&M University-Commerce. 1906.
10. THE NAMING OF WILLARD HALL
The Temperance Movement and Frances E.
Willard became dear to Etta definitely left
their mark on her and thus she named the
new girls dormitory Willard Hall.
Gladys Mayo recounts,“Not many years
later my mother became active in the
campaign for Women’s Rights, a movement
then gaining momentum in the Northern
States and England. My mother had great
faith in this feminist movement. She
believed that women were citizen capable
of identifying themselves with world
affairs,capable of thinking above and
beyond the kitchen sink. She sensed that
women had brains, that they should be
allowed to cast votes in a free society, that
the intelligence of women should be used
in the moulding of democracy” (Mayo 7).
“Female Students in Windows.” Historic ET Collection. Northeast
Texas Digital Collections. James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M
University-Commerce. 1912.
11. HER RING OF INFLUENCE
Etta Booth Mayo lived and taught by
example, here she is giving lessons to
her children and her Mandolin and
Guitar society, with no expectation of
anything in return.
“Don’t anticipate gratitude for
whatever services you give the
world. Be grateful to give.This is the
only reward you should expect.You
grow by giving.”–as quoted in
Gladys Mayo’s Etta Booth Mayo (16)
“Mandolin and Guitar Society .” Historic ET Collection. Northeast Texas Digital
Collections. James G. Gee Library.Texas A&M University-Commerce. 1910.
12. Her daughter recalls the spoken words of
her mother,
“You are responsible for what you do,
for what you are.There must be a
reason behind everything you do.
Know that reason,then ask yourself
why the thing you do must be done”
(Mayo 16)
Etta Booth Mayo left her mark not only on
her family but on the school, her community,
and her students as well. She led by
example and fought for what she believed
in.
“4_Etta Booth Mayo, 1907 .” Mayo Family
Collection. Historic ET Collection. Northeast
Texas Digital Collections. James G. Gee Library.
Texas A&M University-Commerce. 1907.
13. WORKS CITED
Goodwin, Ralph.“Foreword.” The Amazing Etta Booth Mayo by Ernestine & Charles Linck, Jr.
Commerce: Cow Hill Press, 1995. Print.
Linck, Ernestine Sewell, and Charles E. Linck Jr.The Amazing Etta Booth Mayo. Commerce: Cow Hill
Press, 1995. Print.
Mayo, Gladys. Etta Booth Mayo. Commerce: East Texas State U. P., 1963. Print.
Reynolds, Donald E.. Professor Mayo's College:A History of East Texas State University. Commerce:
East Texas State U. P., 1993. Northeast Texas Digital Collections.Web. 30 Jan. 2014.
