Briscoe, Hattie Elam

In 1956, Hattie Elam Briscoe became the first Black woman to graduate from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and was the only Black woman attorney in Bexar County for the next 27 years. Hattie was born in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1916. Hattie was only nine when her family moved to Marshall, Texas after her mother died. After graduating with honors from Central High School (now H.B. Pemberton High) in Marshall, Hattie received a one-year scholarship to attend Wiley College. She earned a B.A. from Wiley College in 1937 before teaching 4th grade in Wichita Falls from 1937-1941.

On October 12, 1940, Hattie married William M. Briscoe of San Antonio. The couple moved to San Antonio the following year and Hattie became a licensed beauty operator, working beside her husband at Briscoe’s Beauty Salon until 1945. The couple was married 47 years.

In 1944, Hattie became a licensed cosmetology instructor and taught night classes at Hicks Beauty School. Later she was an Instructor of Cosmetology at Wheatley High School. While teaching at Hicks, Hattie pursued her Master’s degree at Prairie View A M College, earning her M.S. degree in 1951. In 1952, she entered St. Mary’s Law School where she attended night classes. Hattie graduated from St. Mary’s first in her class in 1956 at the age of 40. As of 1998, Hattie Briscoe was still practicing law in the Preachers Professional Building at 1416 E. Commerce.

Attorney Briscoe has received numerous honors, awards and accolades throughout the region including the Who’s Who in Texas Today award, and Who’s Who in American Law and Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans. Briscoe is an honored member of the National Association of Defense Lawyers in Criminal Cases, San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Black Lawyers Association, Texas Bar Association, Texas Criminal Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the National Association of Black Women Attorneys. She is an active life member of the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, who awarded her a plaque for Superior Achievement in the Field of Law in 1975. Hattie is also involved as a member of several other organizations including the YWCA, a life member of the NAACP, and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.

Source: Biography on Hattie Elam Briscoe in Counting My Blessing Hall of Famer of the Century program, undated, accession file.

From the guide to the Hattie Elam Briscoe Papers MS 67., 1937-1997, (University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections)