Eugenia Mananyi Schuster (1865–1946) was a community activist in El Paso, Texas, and one of the presidents of the Woman's Club of El Paso. She was also the founder of the El Paso Pan-American Round Table.

Biography edit

Schuster was born in the Austrian Empire.[1] She was educated in Vienna and studied piano with Franz Liszt.[2] She met her husband, Michael P. Schuster, in Vienna and together they had four children.[2] The family moved to the United States in 1891, where her husband worked as a physician in Kansas City.[2] Schuster and her family arrived in El Paso in 1894.[1] Her husband worked as doctor for the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO).[2] Along with her husband and others, Schuster established the old Providence Hospital in 1902.[2] She served as president of the Woman's Club of El Paso in 1904.[1] Schuster and her husband lived in a 2-story house designed by Henry Trost.[3]

Schuster and Mrs. Alberto Matero both became involved with Amigos Listos in 1916 in order to provide aid to refugees of the Mexican Revolution.[4]

Schuster founded the Pan American Round Table in 1921 "at the request of the Consul-General in Washington, D.C."[5] The round table was part of the Good Neighbor Policy and Schuster's group in El Paso was the second to be formed, the first being in San Antonio.[5] The round table is a women's organization which provides educational opportunities, social events, study groups and the celebration of Pan American Day on April 14.[4] Schuster served as the first director of the round table.[1]

Schuster was also involved in supporting the El Paso Public Library and helped to get Cleveland Square recognized as a park.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Weiser, Abbie (21 February 2016). "Woman's Club Members Shaped El Paso History". El Paso Times. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Eugenia Schuster". Digie. El Paso Museum of History. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  3. ^ Engelbrecht, Lloyd C.; Engelbrecht, June F. (1990). "Schuster Residence El Paso, Texas". Henry C. Trost Historical Association. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b Heller-Kaim, Josefina; Lewels, Hilda (18 January 2011). "Pan American Round Table of El Paso, Texas Historical Sketch" (PDF). Pan American Round Tables of Texas. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Round Table to Honor Mrs. Schuster". El Paso Herald Post. 14 January 1976. Retrieved 5 March 2016 – via Newspaper Archive.

External links edit