This photo is identified by writing on back as "Mary Catherine Sarver, wife of George W. Stephens."Mary Catherine wears a key on a chain that looks like a Phi Beta Kappa key.
Women were not eligible for Phi Beta Kappa until 1875. Mary Catherine died January 4, 1874 in Whitesboro, Grayson County, Texas. The first PBK chapters to induct women were at the University of Vermont in 1875 and at Connecticut's Wesleyan University in 1876.Mary Catherine died young, age 32. Her only daughter, Mittie, was four and half years old when her mother died. Mittie enjoyed her years at Denison and Sherman, Texas Catholic academies. This was a rare opportunity for a young girl in the West in 1870s. Her father and step-mother encouraged her education. In her later years Mittie wrote about the value of an education, appreciating the educational opportunities of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
