Elizabeth Goree
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Thomas "Tommie" Nolley Goree (1845 – 5 September 1929) was an early Texas
teacher, school administrator, and education
advocate. She was also the wife of Confederate States Army
veteran Capt. TJ Goree
.
and at Andrew Female College, Huntsville, Texas
, in 1866. In 1867, Elizabeth took over as head of the school and remained so until 1868. In 1869, in Madison County, she opened a school that she operated from 1869 until 1873. In the later year, she and her family returned to Huntsville, and her husband joined in a law practice there. Elizabeth remained active in the community and with her growing family.
In 1877, Governor Richard B. Hubbard
appointed her husband superintendent of the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, at which post he served for the next fourteen years. Elizabeth worked with the prisoners in many capacities. She ran the prison Sunday school and learned Spanish so that she could teach the Mexican
-American
prisoners. According to one obituary, she also attended every funeral at the prison, often as the only mourner. In 1879, Sam Houston Normal Institute was established in Huntsville, replacing Andrew Female College. Elizabeth, a lifelong advocate of higher education, had promoted the new college. On the day of the formal opening, the Gorees entertained the school officials and the visiting dignitaries in their home. It was then, and at Elizabeth's arranging, that Oscar Henry Cooper and Governor Oran M. Roberts
met and began finalizing plans for the University of Texas.
veteran, Capt. TJ Goree
on June 25, 1868. The Gorees had five children, of whom only two lived to adulthood. John and Sue Thomason had nine children, the eldest of whom was artist and author John W. Thomason, Jr.
After her husband died in March 1905, Elizabeth moved to the Huntsville home of her daughter, Sue Hayes Thomason, and son-in-law, Dr. John W. Thomason.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
teacher, school administrator, and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
advocate. She was also the wife of Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
veteran Capt. TJ Goree
TJ Goree
Thomas Jewett "TJ" Goree was a Confederate Lieutenant in the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. By the end of the War he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He was one of Lt. General James Longstreet's most trusted aides.-Early life:Thomas J. Goree was born on...
.
Career
She taught at Tuscaloosa Female College in Tuscaloosa, AlabamaTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
and at Andrew Female College, Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville, Texas
Huntsville is a city in and the county seat of Walker County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,508 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Huntsville micropolitan area....
, in 1866. In 1867, Elizabeth took over as head of the school and remained so until 1868. In 1869, in Madison County, she opened a school that she operated from 1869 until 1873. In the later year, she and her family returned to Huntsville, and her husband joined in a law practice there. Elizabeth remained active in the community and with her growing family.
In 1877, Governor Richard B. Hubbard
Richard B. Hubbard
Richard Bennett Hubbard, Jr. was the 16th Governor of Texas from 1876 to 1879 and United States Envoy to Japan from 1885 to 1889. He was a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War and was a member of the Democratic Party.-Early years:Hubbard was the son of Richard Bennett and Serena Hubbard...
appointed her husband superintendent of the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, at which post he served for the next fourteen years. Elizabeth worked with the prisoners in many capacities. She ran the prison Sunday school and learned Spanish so that she could teach the Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prisoners. According to one obituary, she also attended every funeral at the prison, often as the only mourner. In 1879, Sam Houston Normal Institute was established in Huntsville, replacing Andrew Female College. Elizabeth, a lifelong advocate of higher education, had promoted the new college. On the day of the formal opening, the Gorees entertained the school officials and the visiting dignitaries in their home. It was then, and at Elizabeth's arranging, that Oscar Henry Cooper and Governor Oran M. Roberts
Oran M. Roberts
Oran Milo Roberts , was the 17th Governor of Texas from January 21, 1879 to January 16, 1883. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Roberts County, Texas, is named after him....
met and began finalizing plans for the University of Texas.
Personal life
She married ConfederateConfederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
veteran, Capt. TJ Goree
TJ Goree
Thomas Jewett "TJ" Goree was a Confederate Lieutenant in the First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War. By the end of the War he was promoted to the rank of Captain. He was one of Lt. General James Longstreet's most trusted aides.-Early life:Thomas J. Goree was born on...
on June 25, 1868. The Gorees had five children, of whom only two lived to adulthood. John and Sue Thomason had nine children, the eldest of whom was artist and author John W. Thomason, Jr.
After her husband died in March 1905, Elizabeth moved to the Huntsville home of her daughter, Sue Hayes Thomason, and son-in-law, Dr. John W. Thomason.