Hawkins, Mary (1875–1950)
Hawkins, Mary (1875–1950)
Canadian birth-control clinic founder. Name variations: Mrs. W.C. Hawkins. Born Mary Elizabeth Chambers, July 31, 1875, in New York, NY; died Oct 9, 1950; dau. of Frank Ross Chambers and Mary Elizabeth (Pease) Chambers; graduate of Vassar College, 1897; m. William Clark Hawkins (engineer), 1898 (died1925); children: Francis Chambers Hawkins and Elizabeth Hawkins (who m. Lester F. Merrick).
Moved to Hamilton, Ontario (1901); during WWI, served as administrator of Canadian Field Comforts Fund; was a founder of Family Service Bureau (1923), Community Chest (1927), and Women's Civic Club; active in Red Cross, also served as president of Infant's Home; founded Hamilton Birth Control Society (later part of Planned Parenthood Society), which opened the 1st birth control clinic in Canada, serving as its president (1932–50).