Jane Cook Barnhill

Trustee | Brenham, Texas

Jane Cook Barnhill is a longtime leader in historic preservation and Texas history. She was appointed to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) in 1995 and reappointed in 2001. She served as vice chair of the commission from 2001 to 2007. During her tenure, she chaired the Liaison Committee for the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission. She also served on the task force that created the THC Preservation Fellows internship program for minority students in 2006.

Jane is the past president of the Friends of the Governor’s Mansion Board of Directors. She currently serves on the Texas State History Museum Foundation Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Washington County Historical Commission and the Brenham Heritage Museum. A life member of the Heritage Society of Washington County, Jane served two terms as president. She is a member of the Brenham Maifest Association Board of Directors. In addition, she previously served on the Trinity Medical Center Board of Directors and its Ethics Committee.

Jane currently serves on the Advisory Council for the University of Texas College of Education. She and her husband, John, are active members of the University of Texas community. Both have held leadership roles in the UT Ex-Students Association.

Born in Atlanta, Texas, Jane attended the University of Texas at Austin. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Houston.

Jane received the Clara Driscoll Award from Preservation Texas in 2001. In her entrepreneurial ventures, she owns two historic bed and breakfasts: the James Walker Homestead (circa 1824) and the Allcorn House (circa 1844). She recently completed the rehabilitation of the 1935 Cook residence. She is also involved in restoring the 1936 Atlanta Grade School in Atlanta, Cass County, Texas.

As founding president of the Atlanta Grade School Friends nonprofit, Jane led the restoration of the historic WPA-era school. In 2023, the organization received the Preservation Texas Honor Award.

In addition to her preservation work, Jane has served as organist for Brenham Presbyterian Church since 1972.