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Clara Driscoll was born to millionaire Robert and Julia (Fox) Driscoll in St. Mary's TX on April 2nd, 1881. She had one older brother, Robert Driscoll, making her the Driscoll's only daughter.
Clara, although born in Texas, spent most of her childhood bouncing around private schools all over the country and even the globe. From the time she was 8 years old to nearly 18 she attended schools in Texas, New York City, and even France.
Upon returning home from her time studying at private institutions around the globe and discovering her passion for preserving historic sites and landmarks, specifically in Texas, Clara set out on a mission to save the newly endangered Alamo.
The Alamo, although important to many native Texans, held a special place in Clara's heart. Among many reasons, the most important was that both of her Grandfathers had fought at the battle of San Jacinto.
After discovering that the Alamo was now in danger of becoming a hotel and making it her mission to preserve the precious landmark, Ms. Driscoll joined a group known as DRT, or the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Clara and the daughets worked together from 1903-1905 to protest the transformation of the historic site and eventually, using her personal finances, paid the majority of the grand price. Following the purchase Clara became known as the "Savior of the Alamo" and was granted custodianship of the landmark along with the DRT group.
Clara met her husband, Henry Hulme (otherwise known as Hal) Sevier while he was working for the Texas Legislature in Austin, TX. They soon married in 1906 at the St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. The couple moved around quite a bit, even living in Chile for a couple of years, but eventually split up in 1935 after 31 years of marriage. The Sevier's, busy with their political and charitable work, never had any children.
Quite outspoken about her opinions and love for history and its preservation, Clara began her writing career. Between 1905 and 1906 she wrote a number of literary works about her experiences during her fight to save the Alamo as well as her work with other charitable foundations.
One of Clara's literary works was the comedic opera "Mexicana" that went on to be performed on Broadway in 1906.
After her split with Hal, Clara poured nearly all of her time and energy, as well as a large portion of her money, into working with several foundations to preserve historic sites and better civic life overall. During what would be the last decade of her life Clara helped many foundations and made a generous donation to the Texas Fine Arts Association by allowing them to reopen Laguna Gloria and turn it into a mueseum. Her most passionate project however, was her memorial for her deceased older brother, Robert. In memory of his life Clara had a 20 story hotel constructed in Corpus Christi, TX and named it the Robert Driscoll Hotel.
Listed below are a handful of the foundations Clara Driscoll worked with during her lifetime:
. Texas Federation of Women's Clubs
. Texas Centennial Exposition executive board
. Texas Fine Arts Association
. Served as Democratic Party's National Committee Woman for 16 years.
. DRT (which she eventually became the president of)
. The Austin Garden Club
. Pan American Round Table
.Directed construction of Laguna Gloria
Clara Driscoll died July 17th, 1945 in Corpus Christi, TX at the age of 64. Her cause of death was a sudden Cerebral hemorrhage. She was buried in the Masonic cemetery in San Antonio, TX and was memorialized at the Alamo for her love for its history and dedication to its preservation. Clara lived her life helping others and the state of Texas, as well as many other communities, to preserve their history and its landmarks in order to teach future generations. As for her family-inherited fortune, it was used to create the Driscoll Foundation Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, TX as one final act of kindness. Ms. Driscoll's kindness, determination, and love for the state of Texas and all of it's history is one of the main reasons why I chose her for this project and why I admire her as a strong and independent woman. I found her to be an amazing role model for young women everywhere.
Ann Fears Crawford and Crystal Sasse Ragsdale, Women in Texas (Burnet, Texas: Eakin Press, 1982). Notable American Women: A Biographical Dictionary (4 vols., Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1971–80). Martha Anne Turner, Clara Driscoll (Austin: Madrona, 1979).
Turner, Martha Anne. Clara Driscoll: An American Tradition. Austin: Madrona Press, 1979.
https://texaswomen.housing.utexas.edu/pdfs/driscoll.pdf
Image: https://megadoctornews.com/chidren-hospital-founder-clara-driscoll/