The Influence of Etta Booth Mayo

THE INFLUENCE OF ETTA BOOTH MAYO

By: Audrey Paul

“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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

HER RING OF INFLUENCEEtta 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.

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.

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.