Estelle Cannon Hertford

On March 4, 1899, Estelle Hertford and Cecile Seixas co-founded the first Audubon Society in Texas, based in Galveston, and predating the incorporation of the National Audubon Society in New York by 6 years. Hertford served as the Society’s first president, and helped lead the effort to confront the devastating declines of coastal birds, owing to the use of their plumes to decorate women’s hats and clothing. Hertford and Seixas held meetings to teach the community about the harm of feather harvests, and to promote the alternate use of ribbons and other materials in women’s fashion. The Galveston group was short-lived, cut down by the Great Storm of 1900. However, Hertford and Seixas are credited with laying the groundwork for bird conservation in Texas, an effort recognized by the 2023 Terry Hershey Award, bestowed posthumously by Audubon Texas.