Jennie Hanna

Jennie Hanna (1856-1924) was an American missionary worker and co-founder of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. (PCUS). Disabled for many years, she made the building of the Woman's Auxiliary the whole purpose of her life.

Early life and education Jennie Hanna was born in DeKalb County, Missouri,

Career At the age of 19, Hanna became interested in a Sunday school class of young girls whom she organized into a missionary class at the suggestion of her pastor's wife, Eleanor Boude (Mrs. Henry B. Boude). It was through Hanna's efforts to train the young girls in missionary service that a vision came to her which resulted in the organization of the Woman's Auxiliary. In 1884, Hanna launched a discussion in PCUS papers as to the advisability of organizing the societies in each Presbytery into a Presbyterial Union similar to the plan which the PCUSA had had in operation for years. Hanna's first article in the church papers caught the attention of Emma Longstreet Sibley (Mrs. Josiah Sibley), of Augusta, Georgia. Two years later, Hanna and Sibley, in spite of outspoken opposition of some of the leading ministers of the Church, agreed to unite in an effort to reach every one of the 2,000 churches in the PCUS with a plan for Presbyterial organizations for Foreign Missions, looking eventually toward establishing a Woman's Board similar to that in the PCUSA. Hanna possessed a training in systems through her association with her father, which proved invaluable in this work. In addition, she was a good writer. she was active in her local church, the Central Presbyterian in Kansas City, Missouri, especially in missionary work, until a few years before her death when her health compelled her to give it up.

An announcement was made in October 1924 regarding a memorial service for Hanna, founder of the women's work of the church, to be featured at the 4-day meeting of the Missouri Synodical Auxiliary of the PCUS convening later that month.

Selected works "Concerning Praise Meetings", Presbyterian Survey (January 1913), vol. 2, pp. 187-88 (text) "The History of the Woman's Auxiliary" (leaflet), The Presbyterian Record (June 1915)