Amelia "Mimi" Himes Walker (July 24, 1880 - July 19, 1974) was an American suffragist and women's rights activist. Walker was one of the Silent Sentinels who picketed outside of the White House for women's right to vote. She was arrested in 1917 and sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse. After women secured the right to vote, Walker continued to honor the efforts of the suffragists. She also promoted the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
Biographyedit
Walker was born in New Oxford, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1880 into a family of Quakers and grew up there with five siblings.[1][2] She graduated from York Collegiate Institute in 1898.[2] Walker then went to Swarthmore College where she met Alice Paul who was also attending the school.[2] Walker also became a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and graduated from Swarthmore in 1902.[1] She had also met her future husband, Robert Hunt Walker, at Swarthmore.[1] In June of 1910, the couple were married in New Oxford and planned to move to Baltimore where Robert worked.[3]
The couple moved into Robert's family home, Drumquhazel, outside of Towson, Maryland.[1] They raised three children there and the home also served as a place for entertaining and for suffragists, such as her close friend, Edith Hooker, to meet.[1] Walker joined the National Woman's Party (NWP) at some point before 1917.[2] The suffragists, including Walker, called on President Woodrow Wilson to urge the Maryland Legislature to include women's suffrage during the extra session in April of 1917.[4]
Amelia Himes Walker's Jailed for Freedom Pin, 1917
On July 14, 1917, Walker, Hooker and several other women were arrested for "obstructing traffic" while picketing for women's suffrage outside of the White House.[1] When brought before the court, Walker said to the judge, "President Wilson said in 1915 that he believed in woman suffrage. We are only asking him, by the silent appeal of our banners, to convert his words into deeds. Why should he expect us to help him establish democracy in Europe when he is not willing to grant us democracy in the United States?"[5] She and the other 15 women were sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse or to pay a $25 fine.[5] Her husband attempted to pay the fine in order to release her, but Walker refused and said she would complete her prison sentence.[5] The women were eventually pardoned by President Wilson not long after their arrest due to public outcry.[2][6] However, the women refused the pardon and went on to the workhouse.[7] For her arrest, she was later awarded the "Jailed For Freedom" pin.[1] She later donated the pin to the Smithsonian Museum in 1959.[1]
After women earned the right to vote, Walker continued to support women's rights, including supporting the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).[2] Walker continued to work with the NWP and pressed for an amendment every year since 1923.[8] Walker served as a president of the Maryland branch of NWP.[7] She unsuccessfully ran for office in 1930, though she was the first woman to run for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates from Baltimore County.[9][2]
Walker and her family moved to Florida after her husband's death in 1948.[9] She worked as a lecturer at Rollins College.[9] Walker also continued to travel and attend events remembering women's suffrage and promoting the ERA.[10][11] Walker died in her home in Winter Park, Florida on July 19, 1974.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghGarvey-Hodge, Lynne (18 March 2014). "Amelia "Mimi" Walker (July 24, 1880 – July 19, 1974)". Turning Point Suffragist Memorial. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
^ abcdefgWise, Keith. "Biography of Amelia Himes Walker, 1880-1974". Biographical Database of Militant Woman Suffragists, 1913-1920 – via Alexander Street.
^"Walker--Himes Wedding on Sat". Adams County News. 1910-06-11. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^"'Suffs' Ask Wilson's Aid". The Baltimore Sun. 1917-04-15. p. 6. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abc"Wants His Wife at Home". New Oxford Item. 1917-07-26. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Picketing Must Not Be Relaxed, Say Suffs". The Washington Times. 1917-07-19. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"Baltimore Woman Exhibits 'Prison Pin' At Party Parley". The Baltimore Sun. 1937-12-16. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^West, Dick (1960-01-05). "Suffering Suffrage Tags". Orlando Evening Star. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcd"Mrs. Walker, 93, Dies; Jailed as Suffragette". The Baltimore Sun. 1974-07-20. p. 17. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^"A Few Remembered!". The Cincinnati Enquirer. 1953-08-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
^"To Speak on Equal Rights". The Capital Times. 1950-07-20. p. 4. Retrieved 2020-01-16 – via Newspapers.com.
External linksedit
Amelia Himes Walker's "Jailed for Freedom" Pin
Amelia Himes Walker in "Luxury Pint" ad
January 01, 1970
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Amelia Mimi Himes Walker July 24 1880 July 19 1974 was an American suffragist and women s rights activist Walker was one of the Silent Sentinels who picketed outside of the White House for women s right to vote She was arrested in 1917 and sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse After women secured the right to vote Walker continued to honor the efforts of the suffragists She also promoted the Equal Rights Amendment ERA Biography editWalker was born in New Oxford Pennsylvania on July 24 1880 into a family of Quakers and grew up there with five siblings 1 2 She graduated from York Collegiate Institute in 1898 2 Walker then went to Swarthmore College where she met Alice Paul who was also attending the school 2 Walker also became a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and graduated from Swarthmore in 1902 1 She had also met her future husband Robert Hunt Walker at Swarthmore 1 In June of 1910 the couple were married in New Oxford and planned to move to Baltimore where Robert worked 3 The couple moved into Robert s family home Drumquhazel outside of Towson Maryland 1 They raised three children there and the home also served as a place for entertaining and for suffragists such as her close friend Edith Hooker to meet 1 Walker joined the National Woman s Party NWP at some point before 1917 2 The suffragists including Walker called on President Woodrow Wilson to urge the Maryland Legislature to include women s suffrage during the extra session in April of 1917 4 nbsp Amelia Himes Walker s Jailed for Freedom Pin 1917 On July 14 1917 Walker Hooker and several other women were arrested for obstructing traffic while picketing for women s suffrage outside of the White House 1 When brought before the court Walker said to the judge President Wilson said in 1915 that he believed in woman suffrage We are only asking him by the silent appeal of our banners to convert his words into deeds Why should he expect us to help him establish democracy in Europe when he is not willing to grant us democracy in the United States 5 She and the other 15 women were sentenced to 60 days in the workhouse or to pay a 25 fine 5 Her husband attempted to pay the fine in order to release her but Walker refused and said she would complete her prison sentence 5 The women were eventually pardoned by President Wilson not long after their arrest due to public outcry 2 6 However the women refused the pardon and went on to the workhouse 7 For her arrest she was later awarded the Jailed For Freedom pin 1 She later donated the pin to the Smithsonian Museum in 1959 1 After women earned the right to vote Walker continued to support women s rights including supporting the Equal Rights Amendment ERA 2 Walker continued to work with the NWP and pressed for an amendment every year since 1923 8 Walker served as a president of the Maryland branch of NWP 7 She unsuccessfully ran for office in 1930 though she was the first woman to run for a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates from Baltimore County 9 2 Walker and her family moved to Florida after her husband s death in 1948 9 She worked as a lecturer at Rollins College 9 Walker also continued to travel and attend events remembering women s suffrage and promoting the ERA 10 11 Walker died in her home in Winter Park Florida on July 19 1974 9 References edit a b c d e f g h Garvey Hodge Lynne 18 March 2014 Amelia Mimi Walker July 24 1880 July 19 1974 Turning Point Suffragist Memorial Retrieved 2020 01 16 a b c d e f g Wise Keith Biography of Amelia Himes Walker 1880 1974 Biographical Database of Militant Woman Suffragists 1913 1920 via Alexander Street Walker Himes Wedding on Sat Adams County News 1910 06 11 p 6 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com Suffs Ask Wilson s Aid The Baltimore Sun 1917 04 15 p 6 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com a b c Wants His Wife at Home New Oxford Item 1917 07 26 p 4 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com Picketing Must Not Be Relaxed Say Suffs The Washington Times 1917 07 19 p 2 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com a b Baltimore Woman Exhibits Prison Pin At Party Parley The Baltimore Sun 1937 12 16 p 5 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com West Dick 1960 01 05 Suffering Suffrage Tags Orlando Evening Star p 1 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com a b c d Mrs Walker 93 Dies Jailed as Suffragette The Baltimore Sun 1974 07 20 p 17 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com A Few Remembered The Cincinnati Enquirer 1953 08 27 p 1 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com To Speak on Equal Rights The Capital Times 1950 07 20 p 4 Retrieved 2020 01 16 via Newspapers com External links editAmelia Himes Walker s Jailed for Freedom Pin Amelia Himes Walker in Luxury Pint ad Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Amelia Himes Walker amp oldid 1211700306, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
