Mabel Cordelia Holloway Walker ( May 2, 1902 – July 8, 1987), an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

- Bahamian

suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to vo ...

, was the founding president of the Bahamas Union of Teachers and the first woman to head a trade union in

The Bahamas The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic and island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean. It contains 97 per cent of the archipelago's land area and 88 per cent of ...

. Walker along with Mary Ingraham, Georgianna Symonette, and Eugenia Lockhart started the Women's Suffrage Movement that campaigned for universal adult suffrage. In 2012, on the fiftieth anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, the Bahamian government created a series of postage stamps to honor these women. Walker appeared on a 50-cent stamp.

Early life and education

Mabel Cordelia Holloway was born in

Greenville, South Carolina Greenville ( ; ) is a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States, and its county seat. With a population of 70,720 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of municipalities in South Carolina, sixth-most pop ...

, on May 2, 1902, to Reverend Elias B. Holloway. She was the sixth of nine children. As a child, Holloway attended elementary school in Greenville and high school in Oberlin High School in

Oberlin, Ohio Oberlin () is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. It is located about southwest of Cleveland within the Cleveland metropolitan area. The population was 8,555 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Oberlin is the home of Oberlin ...

. She attended

Howard University Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Howard, she met her future husband, Claudius Roland Walker, who was studying for a Bachelor of Science degree. Claudius Walker was born in Bain Town neighborhood in

Nassau Nassau may refer to: Places Austria * Nassau (Groß Sankt Florian), incorporated village of Groß Sankt Florian Bahamas *Nassau, The Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas Canada *Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upp ...

on May 6, 1897, to Claudius F. and Patience (Robinson) Walker. While in college, she was active in the

Young Women's Christian Association The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swit ...

(YWCA) movement, attending many conferences of the YWCA. After graduating from college and marrying, Walker worked at a YWCA in

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

, while her husband pursued his medical studies at Meharry College in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

. She pursued private studies in Arts and Crafts and painting. The couple relocated to The Bahamas after Claudius completed his medical studies

Career in education

After moving to The Bahamas, Walker became involved in education, first by opening a pre-school and assisting Claudius with adult education classes at The Bahamas Technical Institute. Later, Walker became a teacher with local school system and taught at Southern Preparatory School, Western Senior and Junior schools. She was promoted to Headmistress of Woodcock Primary School. She retired from teaching in 1962.

Bahamas Union of Teachers

The Bahamas Union of Teachers was founded in 1947 by Mabel Walker. Walker was the founding president, making her the first women to be the president of a trade union in The Bahamas.

Women's Suffrage Movement

In 1950, Walker along with Mary Ingraham, Georgianna Symonette, and Eugenia Lockhart started the

Women's Suffrage Movement Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...

(WSM) that campaigned for universal adult suffrage. With Walker's connections in the Bahamas Teachers' Union, and the other women's connections in women's clubs, they were able to influence others to join them.

Later life and death

Walker was the mother to seven children. After she retired from teaching, she ran the Walker's Pharmacy, Clothes and Hardware Store. The Mabel Walker Primary School, Mabel Walker In-House Professional Development Centre and The Bahamas Union of Teachers' Walker Hall were named to honor Walker. She received The Queen's Medal and Certificate of Honour. Walker died on July 8, 1987, at the age of 85. In 2023, Walker posthumously received the Order of Distinction – Companion honor from The Bahamian government.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Walker, Mabel 1902 births 1987 deaths American emigrants to the Bahamas Bahamian educators Bahamian suffragists Howard University alumni People from Greenville, South Carolina Place of death missing