Dr. Grady Early, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, taught math and computer science at Texas State University for 29 years, serving briefly as interim chair of the newly-formed Computer Science department. After retirement, Early began researching his family history and gained some familiarity with various research tools: ancestry, familysearch, newspapers, San Marcos Record archives, findagrave and many more. This made it easy for him to segue into the histories of non-family members, which is how he began to write a story about Southwest Texas Normal in San Marcos, also known as San Marcos Normal, which is now Texas State University. This series will highlight the first staff at Southwest Texas Normal.
According to the 1907 Pedagogue, “Mary Stuart Butler can readily find ‘do’ and sing ‘me sol fa;’ expert wielder of the baton; reserves compliments until commencement.”
Mary was born in Kirkwood, St. Louis Co., Mo., in 1891, the daughter of Henry Butler, a composer and music teacher, and Anna Stuart, a housewife. In 1889, Henry and family moved to Indianapolis, IN, where he took charge of music in the public schools, and where Mary enrolled as a student. It seems likely that Mary’s early musical education was entirely at the hand of her dad. But she also studied at the Western College for Women, Oxford, Ohio, and attended the Students’ Art League of New York City.
In 1891, Mary graduated and, in 1893, became a teacher in the Indianapolis public schools. In 1895, she resigned and moved to Texas to teach, briefly, at North Texas State Normal in Denton, then taught music in the Austin public schools, superintended by Tom Harris.
Mary was a musical force of nature. She played piano, organ and accordion. She sang, with that rare female voice contralto [think, Cher]; perhaps she was influenced by growing up in a household of three brothers and no sisters.
She wielded a baton with the best of them. She directed, led and performed, all with equal aplomb. She read papers at professional meetings. E.g., “Methods in Vocal Music,” which was presented to the 1896 meeting of superintendents and teachers in Galveston, and “Music,” which was presented to the 1897 school of methods at Baylor.
When the cornerstone of the new Austin high school was laid in 1900, there was a great celebration and a large audience. Part of the entertainment was provided by Mary’s 120-student grammar school chorus.
While in Austin, Mary undoubtedly became acquainted with future SWTN colleagues, Alfred Freshney, Helen Hornsby and Jessie Sayers. Not to mention future boss Tom Harris.
In 1901, the Austin school district found itself short of funds. A committee recommended that the position of teacher of vocal music [Mary] be discontinued. So it was easy for Mary to accept Tom Harris’ offer to join him and 15 others as the first faculty of SWTN. She would be a teacher of vocal music. In the meantime, when Tom Harris hired her, she was in Ruston, LA. In 1919, she placed an order for one of those beautiful 1920 F.B. Model Chevrolet touring cars.
Mary was active in the Presbyterian church where she often played the organ. She was a director of the YWCA, and the corresponding secretary of Chapter Nu of Delta Kappa Gamma.
In 1944, she died. Her death certificate cites a fall, which caused a cerebral hemorrhage; perhaps it could have been the other way around. The informant, Mrs. Mary Stuart Keller, identified Mary’s mom as Anna Sherwood rather than as Anna Stuart. Mary’s obit produces another mystery. It lists an adopted daughter, Mrs. F.L. Conway, Alexandria, La., as a survivor. There has been no other mention of an adopted daughter found by this author.
In recognition of her years of service and impact on the university and on the community, Mary was honored with the 1965 opening of Mary Stuart Butler Hall as a women’s dorm; made co-ed in 1978. After renovations in 1990; it still serves the university as a residence hall.
No musical event could have been scheduled in the early days of the Normal without the inclusion of Miss Mary Stuart Butler.
Find more information about her grave at Findagrave # 33213987. Check out the virtual cemetery of the complete first faculty at findagrave.com/virtual- cemetery/1934255.
Note from Early: Thank you for following me on this journey through the stories of the first faculty at SWTN. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I.
A school is often judged by the quality of its faculty, and this one was superb.
A more appropriate measure might be the quality of its students. What happened to those first 303 students? Rich? Poor? Beggar? Thief?
I decline to do bios on them all, but one student, because of her connection to one of the first faculty, will be featured next week.
