The Houston Metropolitan Research Center recently acquired the collection of Mildred Hausinger and Marguerite Austin.  The collection offers a view into their public and private lives as a lesbian couple in Houston during the 20^th century.  Processing archivist Abra Schnur recently completed the organization of the collection and offers this insight.

Mildred and Margy had been together since the summer of 1948.  The story goes that Mildred remembers being with friends when she saw the most beautiful lady in a nurse’s uniform walking towards them.  Mildred asked her friend to invite this nurse, Margy, to a party later that evening.  Margy did go to that party and spent the evening with Mildred; dancing the night way.  Mildred’s friend made the comment that she didn’t waste any time, and Mildred replied, “I didn’t intend to!”

In 1956 Margy and Mildred began long careers with the Spring Branch Independent School District; Margy as a school nurse and Mildred as a tennis coach.  The couple bought a home in the Braeburn Glen subdivision off the Southwest Freeway in 1958. 

Mildred and Margy loved to spend their free time at their bayou house on Bastrop Bayou.  Mildred was an avid fisherman and hunter and Austin enjoyed gardening and photography. They retired from Spring Branch ISD in 1979, sold their home in Houston, and moved to their land in Somerville near Brenham, Texas in 1980. 

Throughout their lives, they took several vacations; alone, and with friends and family.  They devoted their retirement to traveling across the United States in their RV during the 1980s.  In the 1990s they travelled less, but did more targeted trips and cruises.   Mildred passed away in 2013 and Margy in 2017.

Mildred and Margy were never “out” to their family, though it was more than likely an understanding that was never mentioned.  The support of their families is shown through correspondence and photographs.  They had an active social life by hosting parties at their home, inviting friends and family to Bastrop Bayou or Somerville, and participating in local LGBT potlucks and reunions.

Their collection consists of correspondence and family records; photographs that document their childhood, school, pets, life at home, LGBT house parties, potlucks, anniversaries, and birthday gatherings; audiovisual material, and objects such as Margy’s nursing pins and Mildred’s Spring Branch Memorial High School stadium blanket.

For more information on the collection contact the Texas Room in the Julia Ideson Building at txr.reference@houstontx.gov, or call 832-939-1662.