Mary Ankeny Hunter papers

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: IWA0097

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Mary Ankeny Hunter autobiographical sketch dates from 1940 and is three pages in length. In it, Hunter describes her life and activities up to 1940. The paper, entitled "The Iowa Suffrage Memorial Commission," was originally written to be included in the memorial cabinet donated to the State of Iowa by the Iowa Suffrage Memorial Commission in 1937.

Dates

Creation: 1940

Creator

Hunter, Mary Ankeny, 1870- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The item is item is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright held by the donor has been retained by the donor.

However, copyright status for some collection materials may be unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owner. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility and potential liability based on copyright infringement for any use rests exclusively and solely with the user. Users must properly acknowledge the Iowa Women’s Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, as the source of the material. For further information, visit https://www.lib.uiowa.edu/sc/services/rights/

Biographical / Historical

Mary Ankeny was born on January 1, 1870 to Sarah Irvine Ankeny and Rollin Valentine Ankeny. The youngest of five children, Ankeny's mother died when she was nine years old. In 1892, Ankeny married Fred Heaton Hunter, son of pioneer suffragists Eliza Heaton Hunter and Dr. Andrew Oliver Hunter. Upon her marriage, Hunter joined the Polk County Woman Suffrage Society, later the Political Equality Club, and remained a member until the organization disbanded in 1919.

Hunter was also a member of the Des Moines Women's Club, the Des Moines Federation of Women's Clubs, the PEO, the Iowa League of Women Voters, the Votes for Women League and the Polk County League of Women Voters. Beginning in 1922, Hunter served as secretary of the Iowa Suffrage Memorial Commission for six years, followed by a year as vice president, and then six years as president. In addition to working for the enfranchisement of women for many years, Hunter was a prohibitionist, worked for the Red Cross during World War I, and was an activist for world peace.

Extent

0.25 linear inches

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Secretary, vice-president, and then president of the Iowa Suffrage Memorial Commission in the 1920s and 1930s. Hunter was a peace activist, prohibitionist, and Red Cross worker during World War I.