Pearl Alma Neas was born in Liberty Hill, Texas in 1893 to Isaac and Hester (Ottinger) Neas. In 1913, Pearl Neas graduated from Tyler Business College in Tyler, Texas. She continued her education at Southwestern University, which she attended from 1913–1916, 1923–1924, 1925–1926, 1930–1932, and 1933–1934. Ms. Neas also attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago in 1931.

It is no exaggeration to state that Southwestern University encapsulated Ms. Neas’ career. In 1913, she came to Southwestern as secretary to the President; in 1917, she became Assistant Registrar. Six years later, she took over as Registrar, a position she held until her death in 1962. Ms. Neas was the first woman in the history of the University to hold this position. She served the University in other ways as well, working as Director of Publicity and Correspondence in the mid-1930s, and as Executive Secretary of the Ex-Students Association in 1936. She also wrote A Brief History of Southwestern for fundraising purposes in the late 1930s.

Ms. Neas worked to promote higher education through her membership in several organizations. She was one of three founding members of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars, and was a member of the Southwestern and National branches of that organization. She held memberships in the Association for the Advancement of Science, the Association for Higher Education, and the National Education Association. Her interests included cultural and civic issues as well: she was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and founder of the Georgetown Business Women’s League, and held leadership positions in the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs, Pi Gamma Mu, Pi Delta Epsilon, Zeta Tau Alpha, the Wesleyan Guild, and the Texas Fine Arts Association.

Ms. Neas was active in politics, having served as a delegate to Democratic conventions. She used her connections to Lyndon Baines Johnson to bring great civic improvements to Georgetown and Williamson County. The collection contains some correspondence between her and Lyndon B. Johnson which reveal her influence in promoting the construction of the Georgetown Airport and the San Gabriel Dam. She was also instrumental in securing a V-12 Military Training Unit for the University during World War II, which was a lifesaver for the campus during those difficult years.

In 1956, Ms. Neas was named Woman of the Year by the Georgetown Business Women’s League. She received other honors as well, for her dedicated service to Georgetown and to the University. She was named in Who’s Who in Texas; in the South and Southwest; in Education; and in Methodism. She was recognized in Notable Women of the Southwest, The Blue Book, The International Blue Book of Notables, and the National Social Directory.

During her forty-nine years at Southwestern University, Pearl Neas was a force for progress and change. Her efforts bridged the gap between the University and the Georgetown community, and brought cultural, educational, and civic improvements to both. When she died on July 3, 1962, her funeral and subsequent memorial services were held on campus in the Lois Perkins Chapel.