Ada Simond

She was only able to attend one semester of high-school but supplemented her learning by borrowing books from L. C. Anderson, who later went on to found the Colored Teachers State Association of Texas.

She served in this capacity for 25 years, and cites her efforts in training volunteers as one of her major contributions: "I was able to convince people that helping those less fortunate than themselves transcended financial gain.

[4][7] Starting in 1977, Simond published a series of 6 children's book which explored the African-American experience in Austin.

The books are narrated by a character named Mae Dee Lewis, whom Simond based on a childhood friend.

Simond cites a desire to help children who were learning to cope with newly integrated Texan schools at the time.

In 1980, she co-founded the George Washington Carver Museum which is located in a historical building that was originally the site of Austin's first Black library.