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Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale facts for kids

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Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale
Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale actress.jpg
Born 1881
Died 1967

Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale (born 1883, died 1967) was an amazing English woman. She was an actress, a speaker, a writer, and a strong supporter of women's rights. She worked hard to help women gain the right to vote and have more opportunities in life.

Early Life and Family

Beatrice Forbes-Robertson was born in England. Her parents were Gertrude Knight and Ian Forbes-Robertson. She came from a family of talented people. Her grandfather, Joseph Knight, was a famous drama critic.

Her uncles, Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson and Norman Forbes-Robertson, were well-known actors. This meant Beatrice grew up surrounded by theatre and creative minds.

Career and Activism for Women's Rights

Beatrice started acting when she was just 17 years old. She was also a speaker for women's voting rights in England. In 1907, she moved to New York City to continue her acting and political work.

She joined the New Theatre Company. There, she played many important roles in plays like The Morals of Marcus and Strife. Beatrice was also part of a special group called Heterodoxy. This was a feminist club in Greenwich Village where women debated important ideas.

She was also the vice president of the Actresses' Franchise League. This group helped actresses support the women's right to vote movement.

What Women Want pamphlet Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale
A pamphlet called "What Women Want" by Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale

During World War I, Beatrice helped raise money for military hospitals. She was the president of the British War Relief Association in New York.

After she got married and had children, Beatrice stopped acting on stage. However, she kept speaking about important topics. She talked about women's rights, how clothing could be more comfortable (called dress reform), and theatre.

In 1916, she spoke to the government in Kentucky about women's right to vote. In 1919, she spoke at a big event for the Girl Scouting movement in Washington D. C..

Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale 1921
Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale in 1921

Beatrice also wrote several books. One of her most famous was What Women Want: An Interpretation of the Feminist Movement (1914). In this book, she wrote about the women's movement in America. She believed that women were just starting to show their full abilities. She said that when women had as many chances as men, everyone would be free to reach their full potential.

Personal Life and Legacy

In 1910, Beatrice Forbes-Robertson married a lawyer named Swinburne Hale. They had three daughters together: Sanchia, and twins Rosemary and Clemency. Beatrice and Swinburne later divorced in 1920.

Many of her letters from 1913 to 1919 are kept at the New York Public Library. These letters give us a look into her life and thoughts during that time.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Beatrice Forbes-Robertson Hale para niños

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