An exhibit chronicling Barbara Jordan’s childhood, political career and teaching years opened this week at the Texas Capitol. The exhibit showcases Jordan’s influences on society on the occasion of what would have been her 80th birthday.
Jordan was the first African-American to serve in the Texas Senate after Reconstruction, was the first woman elected to Congress to represent Texas.
Attending the special preview Monday was Jordan’s older sister Rose Mary McGowan, and professor from the University of Texas at Austin Dr. David Warner, who taught with Jordan at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Warner said that many students told him that taking Jordan’s class was very important in their lives, inspiring them to do big things.
“She taught them not to be shrinking violets," he said. "Her standards were very high, and her standard of ethics quite high.”
The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be on the Capitol rotunda's ground floor until this Saturday, Feb. 27.
