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, pe ...

- 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 v ...

, 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 island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the ar ...

. 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, on May 2, 1902, to Reverend Elias B. Holloway. She was the sixth of nine children. As a child Holoway 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, 31 miles southwest of Cleveland. Oberlin is the home of Oberlin College, a liberal arts college and music conservatory with approximately 3,000 students. The town is the birthplace of th ...

. She attended

Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...

in Washington, D.C., 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 Bahamas *Nassau, Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence Canada *Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1792 *Nassau Street (Winnipeg), ...

on May 6, 1897, to Claudius F. and Patience (Robinson) Walker. While in college she was active in the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) movement, attending many conferences of the YWCA. After graduating from college and marrying, Walker worked at a YWCA in New Jersey while her husband pursued his medical studies at Meharry College in

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. 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 that campaigned for universal adult suffrage. With Walker's connections in the Bahamas Teacher's 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 7 children. After Walker 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.

References

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