Alliance of Pan American Round Tables (also known as the Alizanza de Mesas Redondas Panamericanas, 1916-) is a women's organization founded on October 16, 1916 in San Antonio, Texas by Florence Terry Griswold.
The non-partisan, non-sectarian non-governmental organization provides educational and cultural outreach programs, including a very active scholarship fund.
Florence Terry Griswold decided to help by opening her home to these refugees and gathering friends to provide relief in the form of food, health clinics, and English classes.
[4] On October 16, 1916, Griswold the inaugural meeting at the Menger Hotel, the charter members, besides Griswold were Mary Burleson Bee (Mrs. Carlos); Ella Dancy Dibrell (Mrs. Joseph Burton Dibrell); Anna Hertzberg (Mrs. Eli Hertzberg); Olivia Nolte (Mrs. Walter Nolte); Mary Pancoast (Mrs. Aaron C. "A. C." Pancoast); among others.
[10] Upon Griswold's death in 1941, Robinson became the State Director and Nolte proposed that a scholarship, named in Griswold's honor be granted annually for young Latin American women wanting to further their education in the United States to enable them give back to their home country upon completion of their schooling.
By 1946 a Cuban branch had been formed and by the time of the organization's fiftieth anniversary, there had been chapters created in all of the countries of the Americas except, Canada, Haiti and Venezuela.
[6] Much of PART’s early activity consisted of direct communication with world leaders to encourage friendly relations between the countries of the Americas.
This was during World War I, and PART felt that this gesture would cause tension between Mexico and other American countries, so they sent a letter expressing their disapproval.
[11] The San Antonio mayor raised the Mexican flag over the town hall in honor of Saez’ visit.
At the San Benito Round Table, they would have regular meetings to educate members about a different Pan American country each month.
The first went to a woman named Sylvia Mirea Valencia Gutierrez from Santiago, Chile who was Educational & Vocational Guidance at University of Texas at Austin.
[16] In 1991, the Florence Terry Griswold Endowment Fund was created to maintain its scholarship program in perpetuity.
In 1977, the member of the Mexico City PART chapter who was housing them at her home, brought a discussion for a permanent archive.
In 1978, the proposal to found a permanent archive was suggested at the convention held in Fort Worth, Texas and approved.