06/16/2026
The documentation of Houston’s underground music scene continues today with the welcoming of Betsey.
Created by Mary Hayslip and known to generations of Mydolls fans as the band’s iconic mascot, she’s been part of Houston punk history for decades. From serving as the bands logo, appearing on stage at shows, and being featured on physical releases, to being present for countless other moments that helped define our city's punk scene - Betsey was and will always be an icon.
Now Betsey is headed to the University of Houston archives, where she will be preserved as part of the city’s cultural record. This matters because so much of Houston’s underground music history has lived in ephemera, memory, and personal collections - fragile things that disappear without care and intention. Archive work like this helps ensure that the people, objects, and stories that shaped this scene aren’t lost or flattened over time.
Special thanks to Mary Manning for helping make this preservation possible, and to Heather Johnson Heather L. Johnson for lovingly repairing the rips and tears Betsey accumulated over the years, making sure she’s ready for this next chapter.
From the stage to the archive - Betsey will stay part of the story. Always.
