Texas Equal Rights Association

The Texas Equal Rights Association (TERA) had its beginnings at a meeting which took place on April 8, 1993, and included Rebecca Henry Hayes and several members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).[4] Those who had worked with WCTU had prior experience in working with local politics.[5] The organization was formally organized on May 10, 1893, at the Windsor hotel in Dallas.[6] There were about fifty charter members, including many men who supported women's suffrage.[4] TERA was affiliated with the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).[7]

The first president of TERA, Hayes, was also the state delegate for NAWSA conventions.[8] The vice president was Sarah L. Trumbull and the treasurer was Lucy Knowles.[5] Margaret L. Watson served as the secretary.[9] Other early officers included Mrs. W.S. Herndon, Dr. M. Ellen Keller, Alice McAnulty, Belle Zurchill, Mrs. S.E. Acheson, Mrs. A.E. Smythe, Mrs. L.A. Craig and Dr. Smith.[2] TERA based their own constitution and bylaws on those of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association.[4]

TERA formed auxiliary organizations in several other Texas cities, including Dallas, San Antonio and Beaumont.[10] A Fort Worth auxiliary was formed in 1894.[11] Eventually nine local chapters were created, most of these in cities where officers of TERA lived.[12] The first annual convention of TERA took place in Fort Worth from June 6 to 8 in 1894.[13][14] Recruiting new members to the group was difficult, however, because of the perception that "suffrage was radical and unwomanly".[15] Nevertheless, the efforts of TERA helped spark a state-wide interest in women's suffrage and increased coverage of suffrage in the news.[10]

One incident that sparked division between the members of TERA was the idea to bring Susan B. Anthony to Texas in 1894 to speak about women's rights.[16] Those in TERA who were opposed to Anthony's potential visit called her an "outsider" and were against Anthony's views on abolition.[16] Hayes also contended that bringing Anthony and Anna Howard Shaw to speak in Texas would be too costly for TERA.[4] The group began to split over this question.[16] Members Elizabeth Fry and Grace Danforth asked Hayes to resign after she blocked the executive committee's vote to support Anthony's visit.[4] When Hayes attended the NAWSA convention in November 1894, Fry, Danforth and Knowles declared the president's seat to be vacant.[17] Hayes decried the motion, stating it was against the rules of TERA, and aired her grievances in The Galveston Daily News.[17][18]

In 1895, Hayes resigned from TERA after she lost the bid for presidency of the group.[19] The new president was Elizabeth Goode Houston.[4] Also in 1895, the treasurer of TERA reported that the group only had a total of $13.50 in revenue.[12] TERA continued to thrive until around 1896, and helped pave the way for later efforts towards women's suffrage in Texas, such as the Texas Woman Suffrage Association.[6] However, the organization was beginning to dissolve. Nevertheless, Houston still attended the NAWSA convention in January 1896.[20] The secretary of TERA, Watson, eventually ran for office in Beaumont, also in 1896.[21] In early 1897, TERA was still sending representatives to meetings.[22] The lack of funding and the conflicts eventually took their toll on the organization and it ceased operation.[4]

• Ellen Lawson Dabbs[23]

• Austin Library exhibit of Women's suffrage in Texas
• Historical marker