Glenwood Cemetery: Resting Place Of Houston Suffragettes

The historic cemetery in Houston is the final home for many of the city's most impactful women, including pioneering suffragettes.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:36pm

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Glenwood Cemetery in Houston is the final resting place for many of the city's most influential women, including early 20th century suffragettes Annette Finnegan and Florence M. Sterling. The cemetery, founded in 1871, is known for its impressive memorials and landscaping, as well as the notable figures buried there - from politicians and entrepreneurs to civic leaders who fought for women's rights.

Why it matters

Glenwood Cemetery serves as an important historical site that honors the legacy of Houston's pioneering suffragettes and other prominent women who shaped the city. The cemetery's tours and preservation efforts help educate the public about these trailblazing individuals and their contributions to advancing women's equality and civic engagement.

The details

Annette Finnegan and Florence M. Sterling were two of the most prominent suffragettes buried at Glenwood Cemetery. Finnegan, born in 1873, was educated at prestigious institutions like Wellesley College and Columbia University. She returned to Houston in 1903 and, along with her sisters, established the Texas Equal Suffrage League, one of the first organizations in Texas to advocate for women's voting rights in the 20th century. Though their initial efforts fell short, they paved the way for the eventual passage of the 19th Amendment. Florence M. Sterling, the daughter of an oil tycoon, was elected the second vice-president of the Texas branch of the National Woman's Party in 1916 and continued her activism even after women gained the right to vote, founding a magazine called Woman's Viewpoint to amplify women's voices.

  • Glenwood Cemetery was founded in 1871.
  • Annette Finnegan graduated from Wellesley College in 1894 and enrolled in post-graduate studies at Barnard College in New York.
  • Finnegan returned to Houston in 1903 after her father's death to take over his business.
  • The Texas Equal Suffrage League, co-founded by Finnegan, lobbied the Texas legislature for a resolution on equal voting rights in the early 20th century.
  • Florence M. Sterling was elected the second vice-president of the Texas branch of the National Woman's Party in 1916.

The players

Annette Finnegan

A prominent Houston suffragette in the early 20th century who co-founded the Texas Equal Suffrage League and fought for women's voting rights in Texas.

Florence M. Sterling

The daughter of an oil tycoon, she was elected the second vice-president of the Texas branch of the National Woman's Party in 1916 and continued her activism for women's rights after the 19th Amendment was passed, founding a magazine called Woman's Viewpoint.

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What they’re saying

“This was a time when women, especially upper-class women, were just expected to go to school for a while, marry the most eligible man that they could find, and then become housewives, essentially.”

— Jef Rouner, Preservation Houston tour guide (texassignal.com)

“John didn't want his daughters to feel like they had to do that. He encouraged them to think that anything was possible.”

— Jef Rouner, Preservation Houston tour guide (texassignal.com)

“They came really close and they actually paved the way for the group that was successful in getting women the vote a little bit later.”

— Jef Rouner, Preservation Houston tour guide (texassignal.com)

“No man on Earth can give a woman's viewpoint.”

— Florence M. Sterling (texassignal.com)

What’s next

Preservation Houston is organizing quarterly themed tours of Glenwood Cemetery, including a focus on the influential women buried there during Women's History Month.

The takeaway

Glenwood Cemetery serves as an important historical site that honors the legacy of Houston's pioneering suffragettes and other prominent women who fought for equality and civic engagement. The cemetery's preservation efforts help educate the public about these trailblazing individuals and their contributions to shaping the city.