Hazel Hunkins


Hazel Hunkins, a graduate of Billings High School, was among the women who picketed the White House on behalf of woman suffrage during World War I.  When she was arrested and jailed for her offense, she insisted on her innocence with the irrefutable logic: “Women cannot be law-breakers until they are lawmakers.” She repeatedly faced and embraced conflict as an activist and journalist. She was arrested several times. Though trained as a scientist, Hunkins worked for the National Woman’s Party during its intense efforts to gain the vote for women and later lived in England and joined the women of that nation to secure women’s rights.

 

Primary and Secondary Sources on the Web:

 

Ferris, Ruth.  “Hazel Hunkins, Billings Suffragist.”  A primary source based lesson plan for students grades 7-12 that includes a wide range of primary source documents about Hunkins  along with guidance on how students can conduct analysis. http://mhs.mt.gov/education/women/HazelHunkins

 

“Hazel H. Halliman, 91, Journalist and Activist.”  New York Times obituary.  May 19, 1982. http://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/19/obituaries/hazel-h-hallinan-91-journalist-and-activist.html

 

Hunkins-Hallinan, Hazel. Papers of Hazel Hunkins-Hallinan, 1864-1984: A Finding Aid.  Hunkins’ papers are held by the Schlesinger Library, Ratcliffe College, Harvard.  This is an online finding aid to that material, along with a good biography.  http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch00363  The archives do not appear to be available digitally.

 

Kane, Katherine Conger. “Hazel Hunkins Halliman.” The Washington Post.  August 21, 1977.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1977/08/21/hazel-hunkins-hallinan/003d6b6a-0ea5-4c6e-8858-0615c0ce5a7a/

 

“Women We Celebrate:  Hazel Hunkins.” National Woman’s Party website. http://nationalwomansparty.org/womenwecelebrate/hazel-hunkins/