Forgotten Women

 

Last week I had the rare opportunity (especially after the last few years) to go to a course of Forgotten Women. Held at the amazing Bishopsgate Institute, Forgotten Women highlighted the different sources in which you can find women.  

Studying women's history can be difficult. Much of the histories about towns, events etc are often written from the male perspective.  My own research into women in the boot and shoe industry in Northampton is evidence of this where much is written about the factories themselves and the products they made. The social and somewhat more personal histories are of the manufacturers and owners, many of whom were heavily involved in local politics. However, very little is written about their wives despite them also having a large role in local campaigns and organisations. Even those who were the mayoress are rarely mentioned, other than a sentence in the local newspapers to say they'd attended a prize giving. 

The course, however, inspired me to realise that it's not just important to consider what these women achieved or, as my PhD title suggests, what motivated them, but also why they were not mentioned and what is not reported. For example, could it be that they weren't reported on because their actions were simply seen as unworthy of reporting. Who would be interested in some middle class women, have a chat over tea? Does the perception of women play a role here? If you consider some of the actions of the suffragettes, were they considered an embarrassment? On the other hand though, the suffragists, who were against militant actions, are often overshadowed by their more provocative comrades. 

The women we looked at were:

• Agnes Dawson (1873-1953), suffragist, teacher, and activist
• Caroline Ganley (1879-1966) councillor, activist, and co-operator 
• Muriel Lester (1883-1968) community worker, philanthropist, and pacifist
• Joan Conquest (1883-1941) nurse, adventuress, writer, and activist 
• Edith Wensley (1897-1974) office worker, colleague, and friend 
• Agnes Blois (1903-1982) aka Stella Peirres, the modern Venus 'supermodel'
• Joyce Butler (1910-1992) councillor, activist, and Labour/Co-op MP
• Diane Munday (b. 1931) humanist, campaigner, public speaker. 

All the documents we looked at are available at the archives at Bishopsgate and I will definitely be venturing down there again soon to explore further. 

If you get a chance go to one of the courses at Bishopsgate I thoroughly recommend it.  Also thank you to Dr Michelle Johansen for a brilliant and inspiring workshop.