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Papers of Angela Hutchinson Hammer 1917-1952

AZ 012

Biographical Note

Angela Hutchison Hammer was Arizona’s Pioneer Newspapers woman. She was born November 30, 1870 in Virginia City, Nevada. She and her parents moved to Picket Post, Arizona, in 1883. Angela earned her teaching certificate in 1889 and taught school in Wickenburg, 1889-90, 1894-1896 and Gila Bend from 1893-1894. She married Joseph S. Hammer in 1896 and had three sons: Louis Joseph Fairfax, William and Marvin. The marriage was dissolved ater 8 years. In 1905 Angela bought her first newspaper the Wickenburg Miner. From 1908 to 1910, she worked hard to establish a chain of newspapers in four rapidly growing Arizona mining towns. Angela had her own printing plant in Congress Junction, where she published the Wickenburg Miner, Swansea Times, and Wenden News.

In 1912 she moved her printing plant from Congress Junction to Casa Grande to assist Ted Healey with the publishing of the Casa Grande Bulletin. The Bulletin didn't make it but Angela went on to publish the Casa Grande Dispatch on January 1, 1914. Mrs. Hammer quickly earned a reputation for aggressive, honest reporting and her strong editorial opinions. She used the editorial power of her newspapers to effect social change, order and lawfulness in those early mining towns, women's suffrage, statehood and, later, conservation of ground water and the promotion of dam projects for agricultural irrigation.

In 1925 Mrs. Hammer moved to Phoenix and the established the Messenger Printing Co., operated by her two sons, William and Marvin. That company merged in April 1951 with Arizona Printers Inc., and Mrs. Hammer became a board member of the combined operation.

In 1938 she was appointed by Governor R. C. Stanford to the State Board of Social Security and Welfare, a position she held until 1943. Angela H. Hammer was a member of many professional organizations, including the Phoenix Business and Professional Women's Club, the Phoenix branch of The National League of American Pen Women and the Phoenix Writers Club. She also has the distinction of holding membership in two Halls of Fame in Arizona. The Women's Hall of Fame and the Arizona Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1965.

She died April 9, 1952, and is buried in Phoenix.

Scope and Content Note

Autobiographical reminiscences, correspondence, and a short story relating to Mrs. Hammer's life in Arizona. Also includes a pencil sketch of Wickenburg School in 1890, and a photograph of the Messenger Printing Co., Phoenix, ca. 1940-1950.

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Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of copyright.

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Papers of Angela Hutchinson Hammer,(MS 012). Special Collections, University of Arizona Libraries.

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