THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT
The Honorable Frances Tarlton “Sissy” Farenthold
October 2, 1926 – September 26, 2021
“If You Don’t Like The Laws, Change The Lawmakers.”
Lawyer, politician, political activist. Two campaigns for governor of Texas, 1972 and 1974. First woman nominated for Vice President of the US, 1972. Served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1969 -1973, co-sponsoring the Texas Equal Rights Amendment with then State Senator Barbara Jordan. First chair of National Women’s Political Caucus, 1973. President, Wells College, Aurora, New York, 1976 -1980. Founded Public Leadership Education Network, 1978. Organized Peace Tent at 1985 U.N. NGO Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, in conjunction with the third United Nations World Conference on Women. Founding member of Women for a Meaningful Summit, an ad hoc coalition of female leaders voicing concerns for nuclear disarmament at the Reagan–Gorbachev summits. BA, Vassar College, 1946. University of Texas School of Law, 1949.
Photo. Frances T. Farenthold in 1972. (Leonard Mccombe, The LIFE Picture Collection)
More About Sissy:
- Obituary, The New York Times
- Archives
- The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Frances Farenthold, Women on the Move, Texas and the Fight For Women’s Rights.
- Select Interviews
- Amy Goodman Interviews Gloria Steinem and Sissy Farenthold
- Farenthold Biographical Film
- Farenthold, State Overview
- International & Human Rights Overview
- Sissy’s remarks at the Veteran Feminists of the Southwest event, March 19, 2010
- Interview with Frances Farenthold, December 14, 1974. Interview A-0186. Southern Oral History Program Collection
- The History of the Women’s Movement in Houston – 1991 Interviews with Margaurite Johnston, Sissy Farenthold, Helen Cassidy, Poppy Northcut and JoAnn Evansgardner. Including footage from the League of Women Voters and the International Women’s Conference in Houston in 1977. Video produced by Yolanda Alvarado and hosted by Ramona Floyd.
- Wikipedia page