Ida Hultin
Ida Constance Hultin (often anglicized as Hulton; 1858–1938) was an American Unitarian minister and advocate for woman suffrage. Born in Michigan, she served Unitarian congregations in Iowa, Illinois, and Massachusetts and spoke frequently on women's rights. Hultin addressed the 1893 Congress of Women at the Chicago World's Fair (presenting on "Woman and Religion")[1] and later testified at a 1894 U.S. Senate hearing on woman suffrage.[2] She continued to speak at suffrage conventions until the passage of the 19th amendment.
Early life and education
[edit]Hultin was born in Michigan to Dr. Karl Constance Hultin (who was born and educated in Sweden) and Susan Parkins Soman (born and educated in Michigan). She attended Michigan High School and then the University of Michigan. Hultin was among the first women admitted to the Unitarian ministry: she began serving in Iowa under the mentorship of the pioneering woman minister Mary Safford.[3] She was a member of the Iowa Sisterhood.
Ministry and activism
[edit]Hultin's ministerial career began in Iowa. In 1884 she was called to the Unitarian congregation in Algona, Iowa,[4] and in 1886 was ordained as minister of the Des Moines Unitarian church, where she served for five years. She later moved to Illinois, serving as minister in Moline from 1891 to 1900. In 1900 Hultin relocated to Massachusetts: she led the Allston (Boston) Unitarian congregation from 1900 to 1903 and then First Parish of Sudbury from 1904 until her retirement in 1916.[5] Throughout her career she was a noted public lecturer and suffrage advocate. In addition to her 1893 Chicago address, she spoke at numerous suffrage meetings and conventions. For example, at the 1907 Maryland suffrage convention she delivered addresses at both evening sessions, and at New Hampshire's 1909 convention she spoke alongside other suffrage leaders.[6]
Hultin retired in 1916 and moved to Lincoln, Massachusetts. She died there in December 1938.
See also
[edit]- History of Woman Suffrage - Six volume work that contains several references to Hultin
References
[edit]- ^ Eagle, Mary K. O., ed. (1894). "The Congress of Women: Held in the Woman's Building, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893". digital.library.upenn.edu. Chicago: Monarch Book Co. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
- ^ "Hearing before the Committee on Woman Suffrage". Library of Congress. 1894-02-21.
- ^ Ellinwood, I. Oliver, ed. (1946). "Heralds of a Liberal Faith: Fourth Series". Boston: Beacon Press. pp. 56–57. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
Ida C. Hultin was another of the pioneer group of women ministers who organized and served Unitarian churches in Iowa under Miss Safford's direction. She was a graduate of the University of Michigan. In 1884 she relieved Miss Safford of the charge of the church in Algona, Iowa, and two years later she was ordained and installed in Des Moines where she served for five years. Her later pastorates were at Moline, 111. (1891–1900), Allston, Mass. (1900–1903), and then for thirteen years at the First Parish in Sudbury, Mass. In 1916 she retired and died at Lincoln, Mass., on December 27, 1938.
- ^ Rev. Dr. Sarah Oelberg (2022-05-03). "History Vignette 23: Prairie Fire". UUA.org. Retrieved 2025-06-12.
Ida Hultin took over in Algona
- ^ "Records of the First Parish in Sudbury 1836-1956". DigitalCommonwealth.org. 1836–1956. Retrieved 2025-04-26.
- ^ Harper, Ida H., ed. (1922). "History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 6". pp. 250, 267–269, 403. Retrieved 2025-04-25.
At the State annual meeting Jan. 23, 1901, ... among the speakers were ... the Rev. Ida C. Hultin.