F Schools

Fannie Finch Elementary School - McKinney

 FANNY FINCH
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LAURA FRANCES (FANNY) SHIPE (1866 -
1942) WAS BORN IN WOODSTOCK, VA.,
AND EDUCATED IN TEXAS. IN 1890,
AFTER TEACHING AT McKINNEY’S
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, SHE MARRIED
HENRY A. FINCH (D. 1934), LATER A
TEXAS LEGISLATOR AND MAYOR OF THE
CITY. THE COUPLE HAD 7 CHILDREN.
IN 1917 MRS. FINCH BECAME ONE OF
THE STATE’S FIRST WOMEN TO SERVE
ON A SCHOOL BOARD. A BORN LEADER,
SHE HELPED FOUND SUCH ENTERPRISES
AS THE OWL LITERARY CLUB AND THE
CITY’S FIRST GARDEN CLUB. SHE AND
HER HUSBAND GAVE SITES FOR A PARK
AND A COLLEGE. THIS SCHOOL WAS
NAMED IN HER HONOR IN 1924.
Texas Historical marker, 1978