Mollie Taylor Stevenson Jr. and her mother, Mollie Taylor Stevenson Sr. made history in Nov. 2001 by becoming the first living African Americans to be inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth.

Stevenson grew up on her family’s 150 year old ranch in Houston, Texas. It is one of the oldest Black-owned ranches in America, which was purchased in 1875 by her great-grandfather, Edward Ruthven Taylor. She has lived a very exciting life filled with a journey of exploration, on and off the range as a rancher, cowgirl and historian.

Stevenson has graced the pages in Ebony and Essence and modeled for various magazines for 15 years, as well as appearing in numerous radio, television and newspaper interviews.

Stevenson and her mother founded the American Cowboy Museum in 1988, which is located on the Taylor-Stevenson Ranch. Its mission is to preserve the western heritage of Native Americans, Blacks, Hispanics and women and to preserve the multicultural history of the West. It is designed to introduce a new generation to this often overlooked history.

Mollie Jr. graduated from Houston’s Jack Yates High School in 1963, and attended Texas Southern University for four years pursuing a business major. Mollie is also a charter member of the Speakers and Black Go Texan Committee, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the Professional Black Cowboy & Cowgirl Association, the Landowners of Texas, and the Diamond L Riding & Roping Club.


She and her family continue to manage the family ranch near Houston, TX, Tours are conducted regularly at the ranch.