Thornton, Dot

Mary Fitzhugh Thornton, known as Dot, was born April 11, 1882 in Kansas City, Missouri to Mary Anna (Mollie) and Edwin C. Thornton. Mary Anna's father John Henry Fitzhugh came to Texas from Kentucky reportedly at the suggestion of Sam Houston in the early 1860s. John Henry Fitzhugh was the great grandson of Patrick Henry. After the Civil War broke out John Henry decided to remain in Austin because there was nothing to return to in Kentucky. Mary Anna lived in Austin until her late teens when she went to Indianapolis, Indiana where she met and eventually married Edwin C. Thornton. Edwin died while the family was living in Atlanta, Georgia and when she was nine Dot and her mother moved back to Austin, Texas to be with thier extended family. One of Dot's many relatives was William Winston Fontaine, another Austin resident descended from Patrick Henry.

Dot is most well known for being a founding member of the Austin Free Kindergarten Association (the official name of the organization was Free Kindergarten Association of Austin, Texas). The Association started the first free kindergarten in 1913 at 501 East First Street (the school moved to 502 East First after the 1915 flood) with Dot as the manager and teacher. When the Austin Public School system took over teaching kindergarten in 1917 Dot continued as a kindergarten teacher at the Palm School until the kindergarten program was dismantled in 1931 because of the Great Depression. While at the Palm School she started a kindergarten orchestra that performed at a variety of local events including a performance for John Phillip Sousa. There are indications that she continued teaching at the Palm School after the kindergarten program was dismantled but in what capacity is unknown.

Dot was a member of the Austin Teachers Association and served as president in 1962. In additon she was active in the creation of an emergency loan fund for teachers and started the professional library for teachers.

Dot and Ima Hogg were close friends. In their youth both women belonged to the "H. S. Club" along with other Austin socialites such as Ethel Robinson, Bessie De Lashmutt, May Bess Orr, Bess Archer, Vivian Brenizer and Minnie Rose. Ima and Dot traveled to Europe together on the Queen Mary in 1938.

Dot died in 1971 in Austin, Texas.

From the guide to the Dot Thornton Papers AR. 1994. 006., 1859-1976, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )