Barbara Jordan

Barbara Jordan was an American politician, lawyer, writer, and university teacher. Born in Houston in 1936, she served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and worked in Washington, D.C. She was a member of the Democratic Party and held citizenship in the United States and the United Kingdom. Jordan was educated at Texas Southern University and the Boston University School of Law. She later taught at the University of Texas at Austin.

Jordan received the Spingarn Medal, induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She authored works including *Prentice Hall Literature--Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes--Bronze* and *Achieve Success in Spite of Stress*. An African American Baptist, she died of pneumonia in Austin in 1996. She is buried at the Texas State Cemetery.