Led by Dr. Elva A. Wright, the San Jacinto Lung Association was first established on November 11, 1911 as the Houston Anti-Tuberculosis League. At the time Houston had a higher death rate of tuberculosis than the national average with two in 1000 persons dying from the disease in 1910. The Association was a non-profit, community-driven organization dedicated to engage the people of Houston to control, prevent, and educate the community about tuberculosis. Its primary focus and goals were to:

• Educate public of cause and symptoms.
• Promote healthy living.
• Establish free clinic.
• Employ visiting public health nurses.
• Develop sanitariums and hospitals.
• Advocate for laws to control tuberculosis.
• Encourage city and county health departments to lead fight.