Dorothy Jean Smith was born in Vernon, Texas on April 13, 1908 to Eugene Lamar Smith and Shirley (Tennie) Lowe. She began writing for the Dallas Times-Herald when she was a high school student and continued a regular column while she attended Southern Methodist University. Jean moved to New Orleans in the mid thirties to live with her sister. In New Orleans, she met and worked with Russell Lee, a photographer for the Farm Security Administration, and they eventually married in 1939. Jean and Russell Lee moved to Austin in 1947. Jean worked as a campaign manager for Emma Long, the first woman to be elected to the Austin City Council. Jean, involved in humanitarian efforts for many years, donated her house to the Austin Community Foundation. She died in Austin, Texas on October 19, 1996.
From the guide to the Jean Lee Papers, 1987-2003 (Bulk: 1996), (Southwestern Writers Collection, Special Collections, Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos)
