Freda Ameringer
Socialist organizer (1892–1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Freda Hogan Ameringer (November 17, 1892 – October 4, 1988) was a socialist organizer in Arkansas and Oklahoma. She founded the Oklahoma Urban League in 1946. She was also involved in fighting for women's suffrage in Arkansas.
Freda Ameringer | |
|---|---|
Freda Hogan in the 1910s | |
| Born | November 17, 1892 Huntington, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | October 4, 1988 (aged 95) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Spouse | Oscar Ameringer |
Biography
Ameringer was born in Huntington, Arkansas on November 17, 1892.[1] Her parents were members of the Socialist Party in Arkansas.[1] When her father ran for office in 1910, Ameringer took over the daily operations of the Huntington Herald newspaper.[1] In 1914, she was heavily involved with the Socialist Party of Arkansas, serving as secretary.[1] During the 1914 conflict with the United Mine Workers (UMWA) and the management at Prairie Creek Mine No. 4, Ameringer publicized the events.[2] She wrote about how guards associated with management intimidated workers and their families.[3]
By 1912, she was well-known as an active suffragist in Arkansas.[4] In 1915, Ameringer joined the Socialist Party's Woman's National Committee (WNC) to work on equal suffrage and organizing women.[5] When women were granted partial suffrage in Arkansas in 1917, she worked to organize women in Huntington on voting issues.[6] Ameringer organized women in Huntington to pay poll taxes in order to vote in the 1918 primary elections.[7]
Ameringer was opposed to the United States entry in World War I.[6] Around 1917, Ameringer moved to Oklahoma City where she worked as an organizer and journalist.[1] She was one of the founders of the Oklahoma Daily Leader.[8] In 1930, she married Oscar Ameringer.[8] Frieda went on to organize community centers and organizations in Oklahoma City.[8] She fought against segregation and "right to work" rules.[8]
She died in Oklahoma City on October 4, 1988.[8]
Further reading
- Joyce, Davis (1998). Oklahoma I Had Never Seen Before: Alternative Views of Oklahoma History. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-2945-X.
- Whitman, Alden (1985). American reformers: an H.W. Wilson biographical dictionary. H.W. Wilson Co. ISBN 0-8242-0705-X.