Etta Booth Mayo had a significant influence on her husband William Mayo and the East Texas Normal College. She was well educated in music and taught at the school. After witnessing a public hanging, the sensitive Etta convinced William to move the school to Commerce for a better environment. In Commerce, Etta and William comprised the entire faculty and deeply impacted students' lives. Etta advocated for women's rights, temperance, and brought many artists to the school. She named the girls dormitory Willard Hall after a temperance leader. Etta led by example and instilled her values of service, growth, and knowing one's purpose in her family and students.

1. THE INFLUENCE OF
ETTA BOOTH MAYO
By: Audrey Paul

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
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.
“„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).
“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).
“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.
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.

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. 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.
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.
“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.
“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).

10. THE NAMING OF WILLARD HALL
“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.
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).

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. 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.
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)
“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.