Jane Yelvington McCallum: Texas Suffragist and Stateswoman
historical marker
Here in Austin, Travis County, a historical marker erected in 1990 by the Texas Historical Commission commemorates Jane Yelvington McCallum. Born in La Vernia, Texas, in 1877, McCallum moved to Austin in 1903. She became a prominent leader in the Texas woman suffrage movement. In 1915, she was elected president of the Austin Woman Suffrage Association. McCallum campaigned statewide for voting rights, delivering speeches and writing a suffrage column for local newspapers. After women gained the right to vote, Governor Dan Moody appointed her Texas Secretary of State in 1927. She was reappointed by Governor Ross Sterling in 1931, serving until 1933, making her the longest-serving person in that position. During her tenure, she discovered and helped preserve an original signed copy of the Texas Declaration of Independence. McCallum also led the Women's Joint Legislative Council, known as the 'Petticoat Lobby,' advocating for social and political reforms. In 1954, she became the first woman grand jury commissioner in Travis County. Jane Yelvington McCallum's work significantly shaped women's rights and civic life in Texas.