Granddaughter of Lorenzo De Zavala, vice president of the Republic of Texas, Adina Emilia De Zavala was born at the onset of the Civil War. Growing up in Galveston and San Antonio, De Zavala graduated from Sam Houston State College and began teaching. During her 20s she became interested in the preservation of historical sites, organizing a women’s group for this purpose. Among her most important accomplishments, De Zavala prevented the razing of the Alamo. In 1912, she organized the Texas Historical and Landmarks Association where she founded libraries and historical- patriotic societies. Until her death in 1955, she remained active in historical organizations and authored such works as “History and Legends of the Alamo” in 1917.