Occupation Lawyer, activist Years active 1913–1939 | Spouse(s) Isaac Lincoln Funk Name Antoinette Funk | |
Born 1869 McLean County, Illinois Known for Contributions to the women's rights movement Died San Diego, California, United States Alma mater Illinois Wesleyan University | ||
Antoinette Funk (May 30, 1873 - March 26, 1942) was a lawyer and women's rights advocate during the 20th century. She served as the executive secretary of the Congressional Committee of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.
Biography
She was born on May 30, 1873 in Dwight, Illinois as Marie Antoinette Leland. In 1892 she married Charles Thurber Watrous, who died shortly after the marriage.
In 1893, she married Isaac Lincoln Funk. Five years later, she attended Illinois Wesleyan University Law School, where she received J.D.. In 1902, she moved to Chicago, where her work for women's rights would begin.
As part of her women's rights advocacy, Funk gave speeches to women's rights groups.
In 1914, Funk rode stagecoaches across South Dakota and Nevada. She gave speeches several times a day, speaking at sits ranging from mines to the homes of butchers to organized dinner dances. Funk particularly enjoyed speaking outdoors because it exposed passersby to her message. On October 2, 1914, Funk was jailed in Minot, South Dakota for making an unauthorized street speech.
In 1915, she addressed the College Equal Suffrage League of Bryn Mawr College in a speech entitled "The Best Arguments for Woman Suffrage."
In 1917, she also supported the United States war effort during World War I along with other women's rights advocates as a member of the Women's Committee of the Council of Defense. In 1918, Funk was the vice chairman woman's liberty loan Committee at the Treasury Department.
During Franklin Delano Roosevelt's administration, Funk served as Assistant Commissioner of the Land Office.
She retired from the NAWSA in 1939. In 1942, she died in San Diego, California.