Lily May Atkinson
Name: Lily May Atkinson (née Kirk)
Date of Birth: 29 March 1866
Date of Death: 19 July 1921
Summary
Temperance campaigner, suffragist, feminist.
I am a tireless campaigner for women’s rights and political involvement. To that end, I have held positions in many New Zealand women’s rights organisations, including the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union (NZWCTU); the New Zealand Alliance (also a temperance union); the National Council of Women of New Zealand; the Plunket Society, and others.
In my various positions in the NZWCTU (see ‘volunteer experience’) I gave briefs on many bills which affected women, children, or alcohol trading. When the NZWCTU was campaigning for suffrage, I was a popular speaker throughout Wellington and the province.
While a member of the National Council of New Zealand Women, I also presented at conferences on topics such as the rights of illegitimate children, and divorce law discrimination.
Work Experience
Literacy – taught English to Chinese immigrants in Wellington
Literacy – taught reading skills to factory girls in Wellington
Volunteer Experience
1885: Joined NZWCTU
1887-1901: Dominion recording secretary, NZWCTU
1894- : Executive Committee member, New Zealand Alliance
1895-1921: Vice President, New Zealand Alliance
1896: President, Wellington Branch, NZWCTU
1898: Presented at convention, National Council of Women of New Zealand
1901-1906: President, Dominion (national), NZWCTU
1901: President, National Council of Women of New Zealand
1903-1911: President, New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children
1906-?: Dominion Vice President, NZWCTU
1911-1921: Vice President, New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children
?-1921: Member, Dominion Council of the National Defence League of New Zealand
Education
Greenwood sisters’ Terrace School, Wellington
Honours and Awards
Personal Interests
Personal Life
I was born in Auckland in 1866, and my family moved to Wellington in 1874. I went to school at the Greenwood sisters’ Terrace School, while at home I developed my Baptist faith and taught literacy skills to Chinese immigrants and factory girls; I also became fluent in French and German.
I married Arthur Richmond Atkinson, a Wellington barrister, in 1900 – many of his family were involved with the NZWCTU as I was. They talked of me as “the waterlily”, while Arthur and I often referred to each other as “agitator”. We had two children, Tom (who lived for only a few days) and Janet.
My Christian faith informed my life and my work, as did my sense of humour and love of campaigning.
References
Porter, Frances. 'Atkinson, Lily May', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 4-Jun-2013. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/2a17/atkinson-lily-may
Date of Birth: 29 March 1866
Date of Death: 19 July 1921
Summary
Temperance campaigner, suffragist, feminist.
I am a tireless campaigner for women’s rights and political involvement. To that end, I have held positions in many New Zealand women’s rights organisations, including the New Zealand Women’s Christian Temperance Union (NZWCTU); the New Zealand Alliance (also a temperance union); the National Council of Women of New Zealand; the Plunket Society, and others.
In my various positions in the NZWCTU (see ‘volunteer experience’) I gave briefs on many bills which affected women, children, or alcohol trading. When the NZWCTU was campaigning for suffrage, I was a popular speaker throughout Wellington and the province.
While a member of the National Council of New Zealand Women, I also presented at conferences on topics such as the rights of illegitimate children, and divorce law discrimination.
Work Experience
Literacy – taught English to Chinese immigrants in Wellington
Literacy – taught reading skills to factory girls in Wellington
Volunteer Experience
1885: Joined NZWCTU
1887-1901: Dominion recording secretary, NZWCTU
1894- : Executive Committee member, New Zealand Alliance
1895-1921: Vice President, New Zealand Alliance
1896: President, Wellington Branch, NZWCTU
1898: Presented at convention, National Council of Women of New Zealand
1901-1906: President, Dominion (national), NZWCTU
1901: President, National Council of Women of New Zealand
1903-1911: President, New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children
1906-?: Dominion Vice President, NZWCTU
1911-1921: Vice President, New Zealand Society for the Protection of Women and Children
?-1921: Member, Dominion Council of the National Defence League of New Zealand
Education
Greenwood sisters’ Terrace School, Wellington
Honours and Awards
Personal Interests
Personal Life
I was born in Auckland in 1866, and my family moved to Wellington in 1874. I went to school at the Greenwood sisters’ Terrace School, while at home I developed my Baptist faith and taught literacy skills to Chinese immigrants and factory girls; I also became fluent in French and German.
I married Arthur Richmond Atkinson, a Wellington barrister, in 1900 – many of his family were involved with the NZWCTU as I was. They talked of me as “the waterlily”, while Arthur and I often referred to each other as “agitator”. We had two children, Tom (who lived for only a few days) and Janet.
My Christian faith informed my life and my work, as did my sense of humour and love of campaigning.
References
Porter, Frances. 'Atkinson, Lily May', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 4-Jun-2013. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/2a17/atkinson-lily-may