Dr. Evelyn Maurine Carrington

Best known for her advocacy and work in the field of mental health, Evelyn Maurine Carrington was born in Austin in 1898.

After attending Austin High School, she earned three degrees from the University of Texas: a B.A. in 1919, an M.A. in 1920 and a Ph.D. in 1930, with additional work at the Institute for Juvenile Research, at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, and at Columbia University. 

Between 1930 and 1941 she taught educational psychology at Sam Houston State Teachers College (now Sam Houston State University). Then, from 1941 and 1952 she was on the faculty at Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman's University). 

She also served for a time as the administrative director for the Children's Development Center in Dallas, as well as psychologist and director of instruction at the Shady Brook schools. She then became staff psychologist at the Children's Medical Center in Dallas in 1955 and during her time there, she lectured at Baylor University College of Dentistry.

She remained with the Children’s Medical Center until 1973 and maintained a private practice in child psychology in Dallas during her tenure there.  

Her career focused mainly on childhood learning - especially as it related to the process of learning to read - the problems associated with aging, and mental health -even sponsoring the Mental Health Club while studying for her PhD. 

Her reputation extended beyond the world of academia. She was a delegate to two White House conferences and a member of the Governor's Commission on aging and needs of the elderly. 

When the Hogg family began working to create the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Dr. Carrington was asked to join the committee that drafted the plans for the establishment of the Foundation. While working as the secretary of State Mental Hygiene she worked closely with Ima Hogg to draft the plans for the Foundation. 

She also served for a time as vice president of the Texas Society for Mental Health and president of the International Council of Women Psychologists. 

She was a fellow of the Texas Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association and authored publications on the topic of mental health and psychology: Mental Health for Older People and Psychologist Looks at the Adolescent Girl in 1946, The Exceptional Child: His Nature and His Needs in 1951, and was the editor of Women in Early Texas in 1975. 

She died in Austin in October of 1985 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery with the rest of her family.