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 inWilliam'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 NormalCollege 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.