Hannah Diggs Atkins
Hannah Diggs Atkins
“If we join hands as true believers in equality and justice for all, we can live together in harmony.”
Biography
A North Carolina native, Hannah Diggs Atkins received her degrees from St. Augustine College and the Graduate Library School of the University of Chicago and worked in the university’s library until moving to Oklahoma. She attained her Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1968, where she chaired the Public and Mental Health Committee. She authored landmark legislation in the fields of mental health, education, and legislative reform. U.S. President Jimmy Carter selected Atkins for duties at the United Nations and Governor Henry Bellmon appointed her Secretary for Social Services (1983-1987) before she was appointed to serve as Secretary of State in 1988. She was inducted into the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame in 1983.
Fun fact
Hannah Diggs Atkins was the first African-American woman to be elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives (1968-1980).
Oklahoma connections
Atkins came to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband, Charles, and son, Edmond, in 1951.
Relevant Exhibits
