Annie Webb Blanton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie Webb Blanton
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| Born | August 19, 1870 Houston, Texas
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| Died | October 2, 1945 (aged 75) Austin, Texas
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Texas Cornell University |
| Occupation | Educator, Suffragist |
| Known for | First woman president of the Texas State Teachers Association |
Annie Webb Blanton (born August 19, 1870, in Houston – died October 2, 1945, in Austin) was an important American educator and writer from Texas. She also supported women's right to vote. She wrote many grammar textbooks that helped students learn English.
In 1918, Annie Webb Blanton made history. She was elected as the Superintendent of Texas Public Instruction. This made her the very first woman in Texas to be elected to a statewide office. This was a huge step for women in politics!
Contents
Early Life and School Days
Annie Webb Blanton was one of seven children. Her parents were Thomas Lindsay Blanton and Eugenia Webb Blanton. She had a twin sister named Fannie, but sadly, Fannie died when she was young. Annie's brother, Thomas Lindsay Blanton, later became a Congressman.
Annie went to the University of Texas at Austin in Austin. She earned a degree in English literature in 1899. Later, she continued her studies there, getting her master's degree in 1923. She then earned a PhD from Cornell University in 1927.
Annie Blanton's Teaching Career
Even before she finished her first degree, Annie Blanton was already teaching. She taught in small country schools and in schools in Austin. This helped her pay for her own college tuition.
In 1916, she became the president of the Texas State Teachers Association. She was the first woman ever to hold this important position. From 1901 to 1918, Blanton was an English professor at the North Texas State Normal College in Denton.
Later, she taught at the University of Texas at Austin for 22 years. She was only the third woman to become a full professor at the University of Texas. In 1929, she started the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. This is a special group for important women educators.
Annie Webb Blanton also wrote several books. Some of her books include:
- Review Outline and Exercises in English Grammar (1903)
- A Handbook of Information as to Education in Texas (1923)
- Advanced English Grammar (1928)
- The Child of the Texas One-Teacher School (1936)
Becoming Superintendent
The year 1918 was very important for women in Texas. It was the first time Texas women could vote in the July primary election and the November general election.
Annie Blanton ran for the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. She had strong support from the Texas State Teachers Association. Her campaign was organized by Minnie Fisher Cunningham, a well-known suffragist. Blanton won the election and served two terms. She decided not to run for a third term in 1922. The Superintendent's office was an early version of what is now the Texas Education Agency.
During her first term, she started a "Better Schools Campaign." This campaign was a big success! It changed the state constitution to allow local property taxes to help fund public schools. This meant more money for schools.
In 1922, Blanton also ran for Congress in Denton County, Texas.
Her Life and Lasting Impact
For many years, Annie Blanton lived with her teaching friend, Emma Mitchell. When Blanton moved to Austin, Mitchell also moved to be with her. They often traveled together and hosted social events at their home. Annie Webb Blanton passed away in 1945 when she was 75 years old.
Annie Webb Blanton left a lasting legacy. Several schools in Texas are named after her. There is also a dormitory at the University of Texas at Austin named in her honor. In 1993, a book about her life was published. In 2013, she became the first woman to have a state historical marker in Denton County. This marker tells people about her important contributions.
