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.
