Evening star., 1935-09-07
MRS. HOPKINS DIES
AT SUMMER HOME'
Fight on SIums and Other
PhiIanthropies Are
Recalled.

Mrs. Charlotte Wise Hopkins. whose
20-year fight for alley slum clearance
was only one of many successful PHI
lanthropies in Washington. died yes
terday at her Summer home in Annis-
Guam, Mass, at the age Of "a.
Until failing health forced her re-
tirement about a year ago. Mrs. Hop
kins was active as a leader in the
slum clearance drive, as president of
the Home for the Incurables, as a
member of the Board Of st. Eliza
beths Hospital and as Community
Chest worker.
The latter part of her life she de-
voted with unfailing energy to the
elimination of social evils in Wash
ington. She directed her efforts along
specific channels, an experienced and
practical leader who accomplished
much.
Funeral services will be held at IL
m. Monday from the Church OF the
Epiphany, and Mrs. Hopkins will be
buried in Arlington National Gene
terry beside the grave Of her husband,
the late Col. Archibald Hopkins a
veteran of the Civil War.
Sees Work Begun.
Mrs. Hopkins lived to see actual
work started last June on the l0-year
program of alley slum clearance au-
thorized by Congress early last Sum-
mer. Shortly before she left for Mas
sachusetts Mrs. Hopkins accompanied
John Ihlder, who is in charge Of the
slum clearance, on an inspection Of
work under way.
After signing the Slum clearance
bill on June IL, 1884. President Roose-
welt presented the pen to Mrs. Hop
kins as a token Of appreciation for
her long struggle.
Mrs. Hopkins experience as vol
unteer social worker convinced her
alley dwellings bred tuberculosis and
other contagious diseases, crime and
more poverty.
In 1914 she interested the first Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson in slum clearance.
Congress passed legislation author
izing the Commissioners to close slum
dwellings on four-year notice. but
Americas entry into the World War
resulted in postponement of the effec-
tive date.
Move Blocked In Court.
Years later an attempt to enforce
the closing law was blocked in the
courts, and Mrs. Hopkins began her
fight all over again. She never missed
an opportunity to plead the cause
or to lodge favorable word in the
right quarter.
When Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt
came to the White House. Mrs. Hop
kins succeeded in enliSting her in the
local slum clearance campaign. Mrs
Roosevelt shared the enthusiasm of
the older woman and a permanent
program was finally put through.
No less an accomplishment was Mrs.
Hopkins tireleSs effort in behalf of
the District Home for Incurables.
From a modest beginning in George
town more than a quarter Of century
ago. Mrs Hopkins helped to build the
home to the 81 900 900 institution now
occupying spacious site on Wiscon-
sin avenue.
During the World War. President
Wilson appointed Mrs Hopkins to
the board of the United States Hos
pital for the Insane, and for years she
served on the board of St. Elizabeth's
Hospital.
Chairman on Housing.
As chairman of the District Housing
Commission, Mrs Hopkins was active
in raising funds for a block of homes
known as the Ellen Wilson Memorial
Home"
Mrs. Hopkins, a native of Cam
bridge. Mass, was the daughter of
Henry Augustus Wise, and Charlotte
Brooks Everett Wies. She was the
granddaughter of Edward Everett. the
preacher and orator, who spoke with
Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg.
In 1878 Mrs. Hopkins married Col
Hopkins of WilliamStown, Mass.
Shortly after their marriage the couple
acquired q home at 1924 MaSsachu-
settS avenue, and Mrs. Hopkins had
maintained her residence there ever
since. She began her career as a
social service worker while her hus-
band was head of the Associated Char
tiles here.
Mrs. Hopkins Is survived by a son,
Amos L. Hopkins. of Cambridge.
Mass, and q daughter, Mrs. Henry
Patterson, of New York.