Edward O. Diggs, her brother, was the first African-American to attend the University of North Carolina Medical School in 1961.

Two days before earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943 from St. Augustine's College, Hannah married Charles N. Atkins, a physician.

In 1950, the couple moved back to Winston-Salem, where she became the librarian at Kimberly Park Elementary.

After a year, she worked her way up to chief of general reference and acting law librarian.

On the back cover of The Dismissal of Miss Ruth Brown: The chief conclusion of 'The Dismissal of Miss Ruth Brown' is that Bartlesville was an example of the communities that were willing to deny or ignore public racist practices and to concentrate on censorship and use it as a tool to destroy any person perceived to believe in racial equity.

[8]Atikns is best known as the first African American woman to be elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

[10] In 1980, President Jimmy Carter named Atkins to the General Assembly of the 35th Session of the United Nations.

Governor Henry Bellmon selected Atkins as assistant director of the Department of Human Services in January 1983.

The following September Atkins' added Secretary of State to her duties and served in dual roles in the Cabinet.

[4] Remembering the challenge of becoming the Secretary of State of Oklahoma, Atkins recalled: Not easy.

[4]Throughout her career Hannah Atkins acquired numerous awards and honors, including Theta Sigma Pi Woman of the Year (1968), National Public Citizen (1975) and Hannah Atkins Day at the University of Oklahoma (1978).

[13][12] Atkins was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and The Links, Inc.[14] In 1990, Oklahoma State University established an endowed chair in her honor, the Hannah Atkins Endowed Chair in Public Service.

[6] Into the 21st century, Atkins continued to serve her community as a member of the Oklahoma Task Force for the Bombing Memorial.