Hattie Hooker Wilkins

Hattie Wilkins (née Hooker) (July 28, 1875 – 1949) was an American progressive era suffragist and women's rights activist who is best known for being the first woman elected to a seat in the Alabama Legislature.^[1] She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1997.^[2]

Family and early life

Hattie Hooker, the daughter of Frederick Josiah Hooker and Alexina (Fellows) Hooker, was born on July 28, 1875, at Selma, Alabama in Dallas County, Alabama.^[3] Hattie was educated at Boss Calloway's School in Selma, and later attended Normal College in Nashville, Tennessee to prepare to teach school.^[1] Along with all of her schooling she was also involved with the local church, the Broad Streed Presbyterian Church. After graduating in 1894, she began a career teaching up until she got married. In 1898 Hattie married Joseph G. Wilkins, an industrialist, and they resided in Selma. Together they had four children, although one of her children died at the age of three after drinking lye water.^[4] When her family was asked about her most noteworthy accomplishments, they answered with, "her most significant accomplishment was that of wife and mother, and maker of a beautiful home that is a center of refinement and those lovely characteristics that go to make the perfect home life.”^[5]

Suffragist and women's rights activist

Wilkins was one of the first suffragists in the state of Alabama. Wilkins was a founding member of the Alabama Equal Suffrage Association and the Alabama League of Women Voters.^[1] Wilkins explained her ardor for women's rights, along with the right to vote with the following statement, "Self-direction or freedom of choice is necessary to the highest mental and spiritual development of a human being. Because democracy gives to each person this opportunity for development, democracy is right. Because democracy is right, Woman Suffrage is right.”^[5]

Legislator

After women gained suffrage, Wilkins stayed involved in politics and in 1922, she was one of three candidates for a seat in the 1923 Alabama Legislature. Wilkins beat the incumbent candidate for the Alabama House of Representatives, and became the first woman elected to a seat in the Alabama Legislature .^[6] Wilkins joined the legislature as a democrat with the belief that in a nation of both men and women, the government should cater to the needs of men and women alike. Her main agenda was aimed towards reforming education, healthcare and the special needs of her constituents while being head of the committee on public health. Her efforts as a legislator gained the respect of her colleagues with in the legislation. She decided not to run for a second term but upon leaving she was gifted, by her colleagues, with and inscribed cup that said, "To Mrs. Wilkins, the First Woman Member of the Alabama House of Representatives, a Token of Esteem From Her Fellow Members, 1923." ^[5]

Death and legacy

Wilkins died in 1949.^[1] In 1977, Wilkins was selected as one of twenty-five Alabama women who were highlighted in the historical exhibit, "Faces and Voices of Alabama Women". This exhibit is a permanent collection at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. After being highlighted in this historical exhibit she was once again memorialized in 1997 when she was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. This was hosted by Judson College in Marion, Perry County.^[7]

References

1 2 3 4 "Hattie Hooker Wilkins (1875-1949)". The Alabama Women's Hall of Fame Profile. Marion, Alabama: The Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. 2000. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
↑ "Inductees". Alabama Women's Hall of Fame. State of Alabama. Retrieved February 20, 2012.
↑ State of Alabama and Thomas McAdory Owen. (1923) Alabama Official and Statistical Register. [Montgomery]: State of Alabama, Dept. of Archives and History. Accessed on 29 March 2010
↑ "Hattie Hooker Wilkins | Encyclopedia of Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
1 2 3 "Women Wielding Power-Alabama". www.nwhm.org. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
↑ Rogers, William Warren (1994). William Warren Rogers, ed. Alabama: The History of a Deep South State. University of Alabama Press. ISBN 0-8173-0712-5. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
↑ "Hattie Hooker Wilkins | Encyclopedia of Alabama". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

Alabama Women's Hall of Fame
1970s	1971 Farmer, HallieHallie Farmer Keller, Helen AdamsHelen Adams Keller Tutwiler, Julia StrudwickJulia Strudwick Tutwiler 1972 Harris, Agnes EllenAgnes Ellen Harris Washington, Margaret MurrayMargaret Murray Washington 1973 Mitchell, Edwina DonnellyEdwina Donnelly Mitchell Wallace, Lurleen BurnsLurleen Burns Wallace 1974 Gibbs, HenriettaHenrietta Gibbs Tunstall, Loraine BedsoleLoraine Bedsole Tunstall 1975 Graves, Dixie BibbDixie Bibb Graves Owen, Marie BankheadMarie Bankhead Owen 1976 Berrey, Ruth RobertsonRuth Robertson Berrey Price, Annie LolaAnnie Lola Price 1977 Gorgas, Amelia GayleAmelia Gayle Gorgas Wilson, Augusta Jane EvansAugusta Jane Evans Wilson 1978 Daugette, Annie Rowan ForneyAnnie Rowan Forney Daugette Jacobs, Patti RuffnerPatti Ruffner Jacobs 1979 Brooke, MyrtleMyrtle Brooke Tuggle, Carrie A.Carrie A. Tuggle
1980s	1980 Mallory, Kathleen MooreKathleen Moore Mallory Tartt, Ruby PickensRuby Pickens Tartt 1981 Bankhead, TallulahTallulah Bankhead Johnston, ElizabethElizabeth Johnston 1982 Moynahan, ChrysostomChrysostom Moynahan Dunn, Loula FriendLoula Friend Dunn 1983 Bilbro, Anne MathildeAnne Mathilde Bilbro Parrish, Clara WeaverClara Weaver Parrish 1984 Warner, Mildred WesterveltMildred Westervelt Warner White-Spunner, KatherineKatherine White-Spunner 1985 Dean, Blanche EvansBlanche Evans Dean Vickery, KatherineKatherine Vickery 1986 Thomas, Chamintney StovallChamintney Stovall Thomas Young, Martha StrudwickMartha Strudwick Young 1987 Crosby, Elizabeth CarolineElizabeth Caroline Crosby Warren, LellaLella Warren 1988 Cater, Katherine CooperKatherine Cooper Cater Thompson, Mary Elizabeth PhillipsMary Elizabeth Phillips Thompson 1989 Bristow, GwenGwen Bristow Mercer, GenevaGeneva Mercer
1990s	1990 Kelly, Maud McLureMaud McLure Kelly Le Vert, Octavia WaltonOctavia Walton Le Vert 1991 Praytor, Frances VirginiaFrances Virginia Praytor Praytor, Anna LintonAnna Linton Praytor Barron, Julia TarrantJulia Tarrant Barron 1992 Bellingrath, Bessie MorseBessie Morse Bellingrath Smith, Frances Scott FitzgeraldFrances Scott Fitzgerald Smith Fitzgerald, Zelda SayreZelda Sayre Fitzgerald 1993 Mathis, Ida Elizabeth BrandonIda Elizabeth Brandon Mathis Waite, Mary George JordanMary George Jordan Waite 1994 Bender, Doris MarieDoris Marie Bender Howell, LotticeLottice Howell 1995–1996 Bashinsky, Elizabeth BurfordElizabeth Burford Bashinsky Lindsay, Maude McKnightMaude McKnight Lindsay 1997 Wilkins, Hattie HookerHattie Hooker Wilkins Spidle, Marion WalkerMarion Walker Spidle 1998 Crawford, Martha FosterMartha Foster Crawford Weeden, Maria HowardMaria Howard Weeden 1999 Booth, Margaret H.Margaret H. Booth Hopkins, Juliet OpieJuliet Opie Hopkins
2000s	2000 Bateman, Florence GolsonFlorence Golson Bateman Fearing, MariaMaria Fearing 2001 Moffett, Ida VinesIda Vines Moffett Pool, Sibyl MurphreeSibyl Murphree Pool 2002 Childs, Idella JonesIdella Jones Childs Katz, Jane LobmanJane Lobman Katz 2003 Branscomb, LouiseLouise Branscomb Walcott, Bess BoldenBess Bolden Walcott 2004 Crews, Nancy BatsonNancy Batson Crews Gerhardt, RosaRosa Gerhardt 2005 Hall, VeraVera Hall Morgan, Juliette HamptonJuliette Hampton Morgan 2006 Durr, Virginia FosterVirginia Foster Durr Weatherly, Mary Celesta JohnsonMary Celesta Johnson Weatherly 2007 McKee, FranFran McKee Myers, Martha CrystalMartha Crystal Myers 2008 Parks, Rosa McCauleyRosa McCauley Parks 2009 King, Coretta ScottCoretta Scott King
2010s	2010 Burks, Mary IvyMary Ivy Burks Smith, Margaret CharlesMargaret Charles Smith 2011 Anderson, Evelyn DanielEvelyn Daniel Anderson Stovall, Ada RuthAda Ruth Stovall 2012 Nina Miglionico 2013 Frances C. Roberts 2014 Hazel Mansell Gore 2015 Kathryn Tucker Windham 2016 Anne Mae Beddow Sarah Haynsworth Gayle

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