Ruth Atkinson (activist)
Ruth Atkinson | |
---|---|
Born | Ruth Atkinson 1861 New Plymouth, New Zealand |
Died | 1927 Hanmer Springs, New Zealand | (aged 65–66)
Nationality | New Zealander |
Occupation(s) | community worker, temperance activist and suffragist |
Ruth Atkinson (1861–19 May 1927) was a
Early life
Ruth Atkinson was born in 1861 in
Activism
Upon returning to Nelson, Atkinson became active in Prohibition and initiatives of the Baptist Church. She also was active in politics, campaigning in 1896 for her brother's run as a Member of Parliament for the Wellington City electorate[6] and in 1908 was an outspoken advocate in the No License campaign.[7] In 1910 and 1911, she served as vice president of the national Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand (WCTU NZ),[8] simultaneously beginning her leadership of the Nelson Branch of the WCTU.[9] Atkinson's mother died in 1914, at the beginning of the war and Fairfield became Ruth's primary responsibility.[10] During the war, she sponsored charitable events at her home, including the Nelson College Old Girls Association's fundraiser for the British Belgian Relief Fund. Newspapers of the time regularly carried reports of her efforts to raise money and the activities for the Belgian Fund.[11] By 1916, Atkinson was serving as Vice-President of the national WCTU,[12] but left that year in December for England[13] for health reasons.[14]
Atkinson did not return to New Zealand until December 1919. Her sister Mabel was working in England as a nurse
In 1920, Atkinson returned to her presidency of the Nelson WCTU and was involved in an anti-gambling campaign.[21] Mabel returned from England in 1921 and until 1922, lived with Atkinson at Fairfield. The sisters then sold their home to Nelson College for Girls and built a new home, Cranford on Brougham Street.[22]
Death and legacy
Atkinson died on 19 May 1927 at the Queen Mary Hospital in Hanmer Springs following an illness of several months.[23][24] Her funeral was widely attended by members of the WCTU and she was buried on 22 May[25] at the Wakapuaka Cemetery, alongside other family members.[22] She was remembered for her long-involvement in social welfare projects.[6][24]
References
Citations
- ^ Fitchett 2013, pp. 3, 13.
- ^ a b c Fitchett 2013, p. 3.
- ^ Cocker & Murray 1930, p. 35.
- ^ Fitchett 2013, p. 4.
- ^ Fitchett 2013, pp. 4–5.
- ^ a b Fitchett 2013, p. 5.
- ^ The Colonist 1908, p. 2.
- ^ Cocker & Murray 1930, p. 180.
- ^ The Nelson Evening Mail 1910, p. 6.
- ^ Fitchett 2013, pp. 5–6.
- ^ Fitchett 2013, p. 6.
- ^ "Women's Christian Temperance Union of New Zealand". White Ribbon. 21 (249): 9. 18 March 1916. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ a b c Fitchett 2013, p. 11.
- ^ a b c The Colonist 1920, p. 4.
- ^ Siegel 2019, p. 9.
- ^ The Colonist 1919, p. 2.
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald 1919, p. 7.
- ^ The Waipa Post 1919, p. 7.
- ^ The Auckland Star 1919, p. 16.
- ^ The Waikato Times 1919, p. 2.
- ^ The Northern Advocate 1920, p. 3.
- ^ a b Fitchett 2013, p. 12.
- ^ Fitchett 2013, p. 13.
- ^ a b The Nelson Evening Mail 1927a, p. 4.
- ^ The Nelson Evening Mail 1927b, p. 4.
Bibliography
- Cocker, James; Murray, J Malton, eds. (1930). Temperance and Prohibition in New Zealand: Compiled and Issued Under the Auspices of the New Zealand Alliance for the Abolition of the Liquor Traffic (1st ed.). London, England: OCLC 610446449.
- Fitchett, Judith (December 2013). "Nelson Nurses of World War One: Biography of Mabel Atkinson VAD" (PDF). Nelson Museum. Nelson, New Zealand: New Zealand Society of Genealogists. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-231-19510-2.
- "Inter-Allied Women's Conference". The Waipa Post. Vol. XII, no. 836. Te Awamutu, New Zealand. 28 August 1919. p. 7. Retrieved 8 October 2019 – via PapersPast.
- "Late Miss Atkinson". PapersPast.
- "No License Meeting". Papers Past.
- "Personal". Papers Past.
- "Personal Items". Papers Past.
- "Personal Items". Papers Past.
- "W. C. T. U." PapersPast.
- "W. C. T. U. Annual Conference at Napier". Papers Past.
- "W. C. T. U. Convention". Papers Past.
- "Women and Children". Newspapers.com.
- "Women and Peace". Papers Past.
- "Women in Conference". Papers Past.