Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/440

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Women from the Time of Mary Washington
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William T. Carter, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Joseph P. Mumford, of Philadelphia; Mrs. William J. Thacher, of New Jersey; Mrs. Frank De Garmo, of St. Louis; Mrs. B. H. Stapleton, of Mississippi and Miss Sophie B. Wright, of New Orleans. There are many more noble women all over the country, who deserve mention as earnest, effective workers in this holy cause, whom the editor must omit for want of space in this volume.

Mrs. Schoff has been the inspiration of the vital reforms which have been achieved through her leadership and marvelous executive ability.

MRS. S. J. WRIGHT.

President Texas Federation of Women's Clubs 1909-1911.

Mrs. Samuel Johnston Wright (lone Hervey Wright) is descended, through her maternal grandmother, from a long line of Anglican clergymen—Lord Bishop Hervey of the Court of Henry VIII being the first, descendants of whom coming to America and Virginia in the early days of our country, became Presbyterian ministers.

Mrs. Wright—a woman of high ideals and one who works zealously for the cause not for self aggrandizement—came to Paris, Texas, in 1883 from Leavenworth, Kansas, as the young bride of Captain S. J. Wright, a member of one of the most prominent and influential families of Lamar and Red River Counties, and by her gracious manner and charming personality won friends readily, while her great administrative ability was early recognized. She was elected president of the first Chautauqua Circle organized in Paris, and continued in office for four years till graduating from this Circle in 1894. When the Ladies Auxiliary of the Young Women's Christian Association was founded Mrs. Wright was unanimously made president. She was a charter member of the Lotus Club and has been elected to the highest offices within the gift of this club. In 1903, she was the Lotus president and when the City Federation was formed was chosen president, and by her unfailingly good spirit and agreeable manner of impressing her views, soon made this organization effective for the good of her town. She is now an honorary member of the Twentieth Century Club and an active member of the Quill Club, where only original manuscripts are read and accepted. Not only has Mrs. Wright's home town recognized and appreciated her literary and executive ability, but she has been appointed by several of the state presidents on various important committees, as well as elected to different offices of the State Federation. While a member of the Art Committee during Mrs. Pennybacker's presidency, she gave public art lectures at the different ward schools and aroused great interest in the pictures of the Traveling Art Gallery. As chairman of the Art Committee under Mrs. E. P. Turner she visited by invitation, the adjoining towns, giving lectures on art and creating a widespread interest in the pictures sent out by the Federation. Mrs. Wright gave great impetus to the work of the third district as its president during Mrs. Cone Johnson's administration, and originated in her district the Educational Loan Fund which has so materially aided ambitious young girls. She did effective work as first vice-president with Mrs. Dibrell as president.