Winegarten Foundation launches Women in TX History website

Are you WITH us?  With this question, the Austin-based Ruthe Winegarten Memorial Foundation for Texas Women’s History urges anyone interested in the history of women in Texas to visit its Women in Texas History (WITH) website.  The launch today coincides with national women’s history month.

“You’ve probably heard of Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, Selena, and Angelina,” said foundation president Nancy Baker Jones.  “But do you know about Jane Long and Kian, Emily West,  Jovita Idar, or Mollie Bailey?  Come WITH us and find out.”

The site was developed as a resource for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone else interested in exploring topics in Texas women’s history.  The site features a history timeline that stretches from the Paleoindian Period to the year 2000; links to major research websites, archives, and institutions; biographies and bibliographies; sample lesson plans; and the story of the late Ruthe Winegarten, in whose honor the foundation was named.

 “We know, as historians, researchers, and teachers, how difficult it can be to find information about women in Texas history,” Jones said.  “We also know how much we learned from Ruthe, who was a tireless sleuth and women’s history’s best champion in Texas.  She produced 20 of her own publications and encouraged many other people to pursue women’s stories.  The foundation and the website are our lasting ‘thank you’ to her and our attempt to pass the torch to future generations.”

The WITH website is the Winegarten Foundation’s first major activity.  In addition to Jones, foundation board members include historians and writers Cynthia J. Beeman, Teresa Palomo Acosta, Melissa Hield, and Janelle Dupont.

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