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May 7, 2021
Today in Texas history
Birth of Texas author and women's club leader Anna Pennybacker
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
On May 7, 1861, Anna Pennybacker, clubwoman, woman suffrage advocate, author and lecturer, was born in Petersburg, Virginia. She graduated from the first class of Sam Houston Normal School in Huntsville, continued her education in Europe, and subsequently taught grammar and high school for 14 years.
In 1884, she married native Texan Percy V. Pennybacker. Mrs. Pennybacker wrote and published “A New History of Texas” in 1888, and the textbook was a staple of Texas classrooms for 40 years.
She founded one of the first women's clubs in Texas, the Tyler Woman's Club, in 1894. She went on to serve as president of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs from 1901 to 1903, a position in which she raised $3,500 for women's scholarships at the University of Texas and helped persuade the legislature to fund a women's dormitory there.
After holding important offices in the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Mrs. Pennybacker was an associate member of the Democratic National Committee (1919-20) and through her work with the Democrats met Eleanor Roosevelt in 1924.
Their 14-year friendship was based on mutual interests in the advancement of women, world peace and the Democratic Party. Anna Pennybacker died in Austin in 1938.
In 1884, she married native Texan Percy V. Pennybacker. Mrs. Pennybacker wrote and published “A New History of Texas” in 1888, and the textbook was a staple of Texas classrooms for 40 years.
She founded one of the first women's clubs in Texas, the Tyler Woman's Club, in 1894. She went on to serve as president of the Texas Federation of Women's Clubs from 1901 to 1903, a position in which she raised $3,500 for women's scholarships at the University of Texas and helped persuade the legislature to fund a women's dormitory there.
After holding important offices in the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Mrs. Pennybacker was an associate member of the Democratic National Committee (1919-20) and through her work with the Democrats met Eleanor Roosevelt in 1924.
Their 14-year friendship was based on mutual interests in the advancement of women, world peace and the Democratic Party. Anna Pennybacker died in Austin in 1938.