Dr. Hallie Farmer (1881–1960) was an American college professor, political activist, and historian. Farmer was also heavily involved in the women’s political rights movement and frequently wrote letters to her representatives in

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

if she was unpleased by public affairs. Farmer also advocated for prison reform and against voting discrimination. Farmer’s educational background is extensive. She served as the head of the political science and history department at Alabama College for Women (now the

University of Montevallo The University of Montevallo is a public university in Montevallo, Alabama. Founded on October 12, 1896, the university is Alabama's only public liberal arts college and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. The University of ...

) during the period of 1927-49 and from 1949-1956, as the Dean of the Social Sciences Department.

Education

Farmer attended Terre Haute Normal School (now

Indiana State University Indiana State University (ISU) is a public university in Terre Haute, Indiana. It was founded in 1865 and offers over 100 undergraduate majors and more than 75 graduate and professional programs. Indiana State is classified among "D/PU: Doctor ...

) for a B.S. and graduated in 1917. She later attended

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

earning a M.A. in 1922 and a Ph.D. in 1927.

Career

Before she moved to Alabama, Farmer taught at public schools in

Muncie Muncie ( ) is an incorporated city and the seat of Delaware County, Indiana. Previously known as Buckongahelas Town, named after the legendary Delaware Chief.http://www.delawarecountyhistory.org/history/docs/lenape-villages.pdf It is located in ...

and

Crawfordsville, Indiana Crawfordsville is a city in Montgomery County in west central Indiana, United States, west by northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 16,306. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County, the only cha ...

, and at

Ball State University Teachers College Teachers College is an academic college of Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Teachers College is housed in a 10-story, building which is the second tallest in Delaware County. It is home to six academic departments: Early Childhood, Y ...

from 1917-1927. After moving to Alabama, Farmer served as the head of the history department at Alabama State College for Women from 1927-1949 and the Dean of the Social Science Division from 1949-1956. Alabama State College for Women, now the

, holds annual lectures for social sciences dubbed the “Hallie Farmer Lecture Series” and has scholarships in her name. As a scholar, her focus was Alabama government and politics. A journal article about Farmer describes her focus as "applied politics". Farmer wrote articles for many influential Southern journals such as the South Atlantic Quarterly, The Mississippi Valley Historical Review, and the Alabama Review (of which she was a founding member). Farmer's two main goals were to improve government and to empower women. Farmer later authored a book called ''The Legislative Process in Alabama'' published in 1949.

Political activism

During her tenure at Alabama State College for Women, Farmer encouraged her students to become active in politics and interested in government. Some of the political causes that Farmer was active in was prison reform, legislative reform, women's rights, improved education, and civil rights.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Farmer, Hallie 1881 births 1960 deaths Academics from Alabama Activists from Alabama Indiana State University alumni University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni 20th-century American historians