The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-07-27

~ IL OeIAg h4e Su6 UecdIue lIlDueU WlIQ
the spirit Of public service. Her
first public work here in Boston was in
connection with Woman suffrage, when
she was associated with the mock cleo
lions held at various churches to give
ballot instruction to the newly enfran-
chlsed women. Her wartime ac-
tlvltles included work for the Mary
Il. Wilson Knitting Club later to be-
come the Women's Service Club which
IS her pride and joy. We find her sell
ing Liberty Bonds, working on conser-
walton Of food and fuel, directing re-
creatlonal activities and doing volunteer
work in baby weighing. Her work
as a staunch republican has brought her
In close contact with the outstanding
women Of the country. She has in her
scrap book, compiled by her neice
many splendid letters from high public
officials expressing appreciation for her
loyalty and support. She has num-
erous times been elected to the Repub-
llcan State Committee where she served
(l92O-1928) and to the Republican
City Committee where she served for
II years and is at present chairman of
that body. She was at one time one of
the two colored women on the Board
OF Counselors of the Republican Ma
tlonal Committee. For eight years she
was on the Executive Committee of the
N.A.A.C.P. As a founder of the
Women's Republican Club at 46 Bea-
con Street her name is inscribed on the
tablet as one of the originators, her
donation being made that the doors of
the Club might perpetually be open to
colored women. The driving force
Of her personality might be realized
through the financial reports of two of
her endeavors. In 1922 the Boston An
ti-lynching Crusade Fund raised $4,000
under her Craftsmanship. In 1886 her
ward realized $1,400 in a house-to-
house campaign for the Community
Fund with many of the contributions
being as small as ten cents. One
endeavor which is very noteworthy was
her work for four years as chairman
of the School Children's Committee of
the Boston Cleanup Committee. She
had several school principals acting on
said committee with her and together
they created among the children civic
pride in the appearance and condition
of schoolyards, streets, homes and back
yards
In this connection she wrote a civic
primer which tho submitted to school
officials has never been published. How
ever school superintendent jeremiah E.
Burke in 1920 ordered that proper in
struction be given in all schools in fire
prevention, cleanup, and citizenship.
These have been a part Of the school
work ever since and DR.. Burke's letter
testifes to her influence in this respect.
She still has a very live interest in
home bettement and in cleaning and
identifying her community. Mrs.
Hall has written several editorials for
the Massachusetts Elephant, Repub-
lican bulletin. She has been very
active in the League of Women Voters,
strong non-partisan organization, and
time to time active in ten or a dozen
other organizations including the Rox-
bury Civic League through which she
has been instrumental in securing en-
iployment for many young people in her
community. In the Equal Rights
League, under the late William Mon
roe Trotter, she rendered woman ser
vice. j.. In 1924 she ran for Repre-
sentative and lost by 224 votes. Since
that time she has been ardent in trying
to get every man and woman in her
ward to be a registered voter. "The
ballot" states Mrs. Hall, "is our most
powerful weapon. Surprising it is that
those who have left the Southland be-
cause Of voting restrictions are now in
different to the value Of the ballot"
Now her greatest avenue of service is
through the Women's Service Club, the
community house located at 464 Massa-
chusetts Ave- which maintains itself
without the assistance of the Commun-
ity Fund, though funds are solicited
for welfare and camp work. The build
ing, un-mortgaged, is owned by the
Club They send an average Of 100
children to camp every year. Mrs. Hall
is very proud of the Women's Service
Club, their success in raising money
through entertainments, and the ex-
cellent support which they give her
Young people like her and come to
her with their problems. The Young
Peoples Forum has for many years
been outstanding in the program of
the Women's Service Club. -. In spite
of her far-reaching civic achievements
Mrs. Hall has not neglected her social
obligations, nor her duties as wife and
mother as DIR. Halls happy smile will
attest. They have a son, Of whom they
are justly proud, who has very fine
medical position in Chicago.
Harriet G. Hall the woman who has
done more than her share in making
Women in Politics a reality still be-
lieves that home life and woman's
part therein are the foundation and
backbone Of America.
Gertrude E. Smith.