Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Katharine Parker Howard Notman, 1859 – 1946
By Sandra L. Campbell, project researcher
Murfreesboro, TN
Mrs. George (Katharine) Notman, Chairman, 11th campaign district (succeeding Miss Evanetta Hare), Keene Valley, Empire State Campaign.
Katherine Parker Howard was born July 14, 1859 in New York to Samuel Emerson Howard and Pamela Atkins Colman of Massachusetts. She married George Howard Notman on August 12, 1880 in Kings, New York at age 21. She had 3 sons and 2 daughters: Howard (1881-1964), Arthur (1883 – 1961), Lois (1888-1889), and Winifred (1890 – 1979); her son Philip died just under 2 years of age (1891 – 1893). Mr. Notman had a career of 50 years with the Phelps-Dodge Corporation, a copper and metals mining company, and retired as director at 72. He died five years after his retirement on December 11, 1929.
Katharine Notman was appointed 11th campaign district chairman in 1913, working under the direction of Carrie Chapman Catt. The counties in her district included Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washington, Warren, and Essex. The Notman's had a summer home (Eaglestowe) in Keene Valley (Essex County). Although she is noted as successor to Miss Evanetta Hare (a suffrage leader from Troy), in the History of Woman Suffrage, vol. 6, Miss Hare did accompany her on this campaign in August 1915. She begins this tour in Renssalaer County, making Troy her southern-most headquarters. After Katharine's trips out into the country districts and her meetings in larger towns, her husband would join her and tour back to their home in Keene Valley. After this campaign, Mrs. Notman returned to her activity for the cause in Brooklyn where she was the leader of the First Assembly District (on the Heights). At a Saratoga County Woman Suffrage Party convention in May 1917, held in Saratoga Spring, Mrs. Notman spoke at the luncheon. She stated that every high-profile accomplishment by a woman helped the suffrage cause. She also stated "there are plenty of things men aren't doing for us to do; ordinary womanly things which are just as important to the nation as imitating what men are doing."
Numerous articles in Brooklyn Life and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle from 1915 to 1918 detail the work she performed in her campaign district and as the Chairman of the Organization Committee of the Woman Suffrage Party in the Borough of Brooklyn. She can be found on the covers of at least two issues of Brooklyn Life magazine regarding her suffrage work. A delightful article in the April 01, 1915 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, The Woman of To-Day section, gives a perfect picture of her day in the house-to-house canvassing work. Starting from her home on Joralemon Street, Mrs. Notman exhibited boldness and provided convincing statements to those she met. She won over many of those who answered the door, from chauffeurs to antis. Many luncheons, engagements, box parties, and benefits were organized by her and her committee members. She often spoke at meetings and luncheons. She also helped organize the League of Women's Voters when women were enfranchised.
Mrs. Notman remained active in society life in Brooklyn, appearing often in the pages of Brooklyn Life and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. A graduate of Packer Collegiate Institute, where she studied music under Joseph Mosenthal, she was long active in the musical activities of Brooklyn, specifically the Schumann Club which studied and played the works of various outstanding composers. Mrs. Notman was an active member of the Schumann Club from 1884 and in 1932, she was mentioned as being the organization's fifth president.
Mrs. Notman was active in the Women's City and County Club, often holding meetings at her home at 136 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn. Here she would invite other members of society to discuss how the members could be active in the life of the city. She was also a patroness in support of the Red Cross.
Upon her death in 1946, Mrs. Notman was residing at her home in Staten Island, New York. She left her three children her estate which included the summer home in Keene Valley and her townhome at 136 Joralemon Street, valued at $50,000 in 1930 ($660,000 today). In her will, she stipulated a lifetime yearly allowance of $500 each to Bridget Kinsella (a cook) and Katherine Kinsella (a maid), both from Ireland who were in her service. When she died, her estate was estimated to be in excess of $400,000 (about $5.3 million in 2017 dollars).
Katharine Parker Howard Notman is buried in the Notman family plot (Section 93, Lot 6217) at the Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings County, Brooklyn, New York. Alongside her are her husband George and the other children and in-laws of Peter Notman and his wife, Jane Cope Dunlop.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1940 United States Federal Census. (1940). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2442/m-t0627-02762-00099/4491187?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112817893/person/210102167410/facts
Association, N. A. W. S. (1917). Leaflet : Suggestions for election district captains. [1917]. Retrieved from http://lewissuffragecollection.omeka.net/items/show/1618
FLYNN, A. (n.d.). Early climbers used primitive boots (Eaglestowe). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://poststar.com/lifestyles/early-climbers-used-primitive-boots/article_ce8924cc-c632-5880-8253-0abbc740a159.html
Gilbert, K. (2017, May 25). 100 years ago in The Saratogian: May 25 (1917) [Newspaper]. Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://www.saratogian.com/article/ST/20170525/NEWS/170529909
Katharine Parker Howard - Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/112817893/person/210102167410/facts
Katharine Parker Howard Notman (1859 - 1946) - Find A Grave Memorial. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=125304992&ref=acom
KPN and husband begin campaign in counties up state - Troy. (1915, August 7). Brooklyn Life, p. 14.
KPN campaign Sep 1915. (1915, September 25). Brooklyn Life, p. 14.
KPN Interview - campaign Apr 1915. (1915, April 1). The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, p. 25.
Mrs. K.H. Notman, Suffragist Leader. (1946, January 31). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/52896958/?terms=notman
Notman: 1930 United States Federal Census. (1930). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/6224/4661161_00482?pid=40685168&backurl=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv%3D1%26dbid%3D6224%26h%3D40685168%26ssrc%3Dpt%26tid%3D112817893%26pid%3D210102167410%26usePUB%3Dtrue&ssrc=pt&treeid=112817893&personid=210102167410&hintid=&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true
On a Suffrage Canvass in the First District, Page 25 - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle at Newspapers.com. (1915, April 1). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=12109941
Pedigree View - Ancestry.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/112817893/family/pedigree?cfpid=210102167410&selnode=1
Suffrage News from Keene Valley, Page 11 - Brooklyn Life at Newspapers.com. (1915, July 31). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=11840847
The Travelers Page 14 - Brooklyn Life at Newspapers.com. (1915, August 7). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=12109457
The Travelers, Page 14 - Brooklyn Life at Newspapers.com. (1915, September 25). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=12109560
U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current - Ancestry.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 27, 2017, from http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=60525&h=75309195&ssrc=pt&tid=7347355&pid=330136053984&usePUB=true