Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Gabrielle (Stewart) Mulliner, 1872-1919
By Jodi Oaks, Librarian, Mohawk Valley Community College
Gabrielle Stewart was born on October 24, 1872 in Cleveland, Ohio to Newell Coe Stewart and Gabrielle (Townsend) Stewart. She had three brothers, Major Samuel Stewart, William G. Stewart, and Newell Coe Stewart. Her father worked in the Cleveland public school system for over 30 years as a music teacher, director of music, and superintendent. She went to Cleveland public schools, and then attended the University of Ohio and Ohio State University Law School in 1900. She became a member of the Ohio Bar and practiced law in Ohio for 3 years. She was one of the first women admitted to the Ohio Bar. After moving to NYC, she was admitted to the New York Bar. Her law office was at 542 Fifth Avenue. On September 26, 1904 she married Walter Girdwood Mulliner from Leamington, Warwickshire, England. They had a small wedding, as it was reported that Walter was still recovering from an appendectomy. He was born May 13, 1864 to Henry and Ann Mulliner, and was an art dealer, with some sources stating he was a tapestries expert.
Gabrielle was noted as a leader in women's affairs and was referred to as a prominent suffragist. She was reported to have called anti-suffragists "traitors to the home" and "cowards." Gabrielle authored a pamphlet entitled, New York Laws of Interest to Women, read at the November 11, 1908 convention of the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs and published by the Federation in 1908. She was active in the Woman Suffrage Party from its inception in 1909. She served as chairman of the Legislative Committee of the New York State Federation of Women's Clubs, during which time she was successful in establishing a Women's Court, a separate court for the trial of women under arrest. She was a member of the New York County Lawyer's Association, Equal Franchise Society, Women's Republican Club, National Civic Association, National Society of Patriotic Women, and Daughters of the American Revolution. She pursued the hobbies of music and literature, and was a member of the Poetry Society of America, Browning Society, and Pen and Brush Club.
Gabrielle died Saturday June 28, 1919 in her apartment at Hotel Netherland in NYC. It was reported that she had been ill for two weeks. Her funeral was at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, NYC. She is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
Sources:
U.S. Census Bureau, 1870, "Gabriella Stewart in household of N Coe Stewart, Ohio, United States;" New York City Municipal Archives, 1904, "New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940: Walter Mulliner and Gabrielle Stewart, 26 Sep 1904, Marriage, Manhattan, New York;" U.S. Census Bureau, 1910, "Gabrielle S Mulliner in household of Newell C Stewart, Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, United States;" New York City Municipal Archives, 1919, "New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949: Gabriel Stewart Mulliner, 28 Jun 1919, Death, Manhattan, New York." For contemporary biographies on Mulliner, see Who's Who in New York City and State: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries, ed. John W. Leonard (New York: L.R. Hamersly & Company, 1909), 965; Who's Who in New York City and State: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries, ed. William F. Mohr (New York: Who's Who in New York City and State, Inc., 1914), 529; Woman's Who's Who of America: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporary Women of the United States and Canada, ed. John W. Leonard (New York: American Commonwealth Company, 1914), 584 [LINK]. On Mulliner's suffrage activities, see "Traitors to the Home" and "The Women Suffragists Do Not Ask," Miller NAWSA Suffrage Scrapbooks, 1897-1911; Scrapbook 8 (1909-1910), https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller003683/; Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner, "The Revolutionary Spirit in Women," Modern World and Business Woman's Magazine, September 1908, 251-256; "Women In Albany In Ballot Battle," New York Times, February 25, 1909, 1; "Want Women to Get City Votes First," New York Times, March 26, 1909, 5; "Women Mix Up in Political Game," The Evening Statesman, October 30, 1909, 6; "Equal Franchise Reception," New York Times, January 23, 1910, 12; "Mrs. Belmont Home For Suffrage War," New York Times, September 16, 1910, 9; "Suffragettes Will Dance," New York Times, November 12, 1910, 9; "Women Hold Suffrage Tea," New York Times, December 11, 1910, 14. On her work to establish a separate court for women, see "Woman's Court Assured," New York Post, February 1909, Miller NAWSA Suffrage Scrapbooks, 1897-1911; Scrapbook 7 (1908-1909), https://www.loc.gov/item/rbcmiller002011/; "Gabrielle Mulliner" in The Part Taken by Women in American History, ed. Mary Simmerson Cunningham Logan (Delaware: Perry-Nalle Publishing Company, 1912), 593. On her career as a lawyer, see "New York's New Organization of Women Lawyers," New York Times, January 21, 1906, 7; Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner, New York Laws of Interest to Women (New York: Federation of Women's Clubs, 1908); Bettie Bowman, "Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner: A Modern Portia," Modern World and Business Woman's Magazine, June 1908, 197-198; Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner, letter to Ida M. Tarbell, March 10, 1909, http://hdl.handle.net/10456/24811; "A Modern Portia: Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner, A Champion of Women's Rights, Who Opposes Divorce," The Labor Digest, October 1910, 8; "Woman Lawyer Retired," The Richmond Palladium and Sun-Telegram, February 13, 1911, 6. For a published poem by Mulliner, see Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner, "My Jewels," Modern World and Business Woman's Magazine, September 1908, 248. Mulliner wrote several letters to the Editor of the New York Times, including "Work of Miss Anthony," New York Times, October 3, 1905, 8; "Limiting Fortunes," New York Times, April 19, 1906, 12; "Women Enjoy Cooking," New York Times, March 27, 1907, 8; "The Plight of Aged Women," New York Times, July 16, 1907, 6; "Woman's Suffrage as a By-Product," New York Times, January 5, 1908, 10; "Suffragette Replies," New York Times, December 17, 1908, 8; "Husbands Slandered," New York Times, August 2, 1909, 6; "Temperance Cause," New York Times, May 29, 1910, 6; "Alimony," New York Times, July 29, 1910, 6; "A New Surgical Bandage," New York Times, June 3, 1917, 24; "Citizens By Marriage," New York Times, December 25, 1917, 14. On her marriage, see "Mulliner-Stewart," New York Tribune, September 27, 1904, 5; "A 'Flitch of Bacon' Bestowed on Young Married Couple Who Had Never Fought," New York Tribune, October 1, 1905, 4. On her death, see "Mrs. G.S. Mulliner Dies," New York Times, June 30, 1919, 11; "Mrs. Gabrielle Mulliner, Lawyer and Writer, Dead," New York Tribune, June 30, 1919, 8.
Image of Gabrielle (Stewart) Mulliner, 1872-1919:
Bettie Bowman, "Gabrielle Stewart Mulliner: A Modern Portia," Modern World and Business Woman's Magazine, June 1908, 197.