-
Title
-
Hay, Mary "Mollie" Garrett (1857-1928)
-
birthday
-
1857-08-20
-
Birthplace
-
Charlestown, IN
-
Death Date
-
1928-08-29
-
Occupation
-
Woman suffrage activist
-
Pharmacist
-
Biographical Text
-
Mary “Mollie” Garrett Hay was a suffragist and women’s advocate. Hay’s mother passed away when she was young so she spent most of her time traveling with her father growing up. Hay’s father was a physician who was also a very prominent member of the
The Republican party in the United States. In 1873, Hay attended Western Female Seminary in Oxford Ohio to become a pharmacist and work for her father. After graduating college, Hay moved back home as the Women’s Crusade became popular in Indiana. She joined the Women’s Christian Temperance Union where she served as chapter secretary-treasurer before moving to be the state chapter’s treasurer in 1885. As the Women’s Christian Temperance Movement began focussing on wider issues, Hay was encouraged to join suffrage groups. Hay met Carrie Chapman Catt, an organizer of suffrage campaigns across America, while they were both attending a National American Woman Suffrage Association. Hay would go on the serve
as president of the Women’s City Club of New York, the Women’s Suffrage Party, and the New York Equal Suffrage League. Hay was one of the first women to affiliate with a political party. Hay served as chair of the Republican Women’s National Executive Committee. In 1920, Hay and Catt cast presidential ballots for the first time, together.
Hay never married or had children. She dedicated her life to her work. She moved in with Carrie Chapman Catt and took over household responsibilities when Catt’s husband passed away in 1905. Hay passed away at the age of 71 from a heart attack in her home and was found by Catt. Catt created a monument for Hay and was buried next to Hay in 1947.
-
Contributor
-
Pryor, Erin
