Who was Albertine “Mama” Hall Yeager?
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Albertine Hall Yeager
(Rosenberg Library/Texas History Center-1880- 2019 Collection, 2021)
Content written by Marsha Wilson Rappaport -Reference Page Provided Upon Request
Albertine Hall Yeager
Galveston Trail Blazer
Original Home and Orphanage in Galveston
(Rosenberg Library/Texas History Center-1880- 2019 Collection, 2021)
Albertine Hall Yeager, an African American woman founded the Yeager Children’s Home between 1917 and 1918 in Galveston, Texas. She had so endeared herself to the community that even after her death in 1969, when the new building opened in 1975, the ribbon cutting with Charles Yeager was officiated by then Mayor R.A. Apffel (Kirkpatrick, p. 1, 1975.) Said Apffel: “For if there was ever a project that which represented a cross-section of this community, this is it” (1975, p.1).
The level of love and respect Albertine Yeager commanded in 1975 became apparent when Texas State Senator Aaron “Babe” Schwartz, sponsored a congratulatory resolution – SR-507 for the New Yeager Children’s Home (Schwartz, 1975). There were wires from the Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe; Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby, and United States Congressman Jack Brooks (Kirkpatrick, 1975, p.1). State Representative Andrew Z. Baker, a board member was unable to attend but sent well-wishes (1975, p.1). Texas State Representative Ed J. Harris, whose wife had served on the board was unable to attend but also acknowledged Mrs. Yeager’s contributions (1975, p.1). Moreover, The City of Galveston passed a resolution declaring May 11 -17 “Yeager Home Week” (1975, p.1).
Born, February 13, 1897 in Palestine, Texas Albertine Hall arrived in Galveston in 1917, (Galveston Daily News, 1969a, p. 1). She married her husband Charles in Galveston in 1917 as well (HERE AND THERE, p.1,1917).
Albertine and Charles Yeager founded the Yeager Children’s Home sometime between 1917 and 1918 in a large home located at 1111 32nd Street on Galveston Island, Texas (Temple, 1963, p. 7).
In an interview with the Galveston News Tribune in 1963, she explained: “I started out keeping the children of war widows while they worked, Mrs. Yeager explained. “And then we started keeping homeless children” (Temple, p. 7). The Yeager’s are mentioned on the Women in Texas History (WITH) website as notable contributors to the World War I support system when they provided child-care for “mothers working in war industries” (Women in Texas History, 2021). Her early efforts were unfunded and largely supported by Charlie Yeager’s job at Armour Packing company (Turner, 1997, p.252). It should be noted that at the time she began her venture, there were only 6
private orphanages in Texas for black children (Turner, 1997, p.252). Ultimately the State of Texas opened one in 1929 (1997, p.252).
By the time Ms. Yeager died in 1969 she had taken care of over 1,000 children, (Galveston Daily News, 1969,p. 1).
In 1975 her legacy was honored when the Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund, the Moody Foundation and private donors provided the funding for the current building that houses the Albertine Yeager Youth Cultural Center, (Kirkpatrick, 1975a, p. 1).