Finding Examples of Women’s Philanthropy in the Northampton Boot and Shoe Industry in 1870 to 1950 – The Case of Catherine Lewis

 

Finding Examples of Women’s Philanthropy in the Northampton Boot and Shoe Industry in 1870 to 1950 – The Case of Catherine Lewis

Women’s philanthropy is a topic which is often overlooked in Northampton’s huge tapestry of history. In fact, women’s history in general is often unnoticed and overshadowed by that of the men of the Boot and Shoe industry.  This piece will focus on showing examples of philanthropic activity carried out by women, who often had links to the Boot and Shoe Manufacturers.

It is firstly important to understand that philanthropic activities are not just those of monetary value. As Frank Prochaska’s Women and Philanthropy in 19^th Century England suggests much of the charitable acts carried out by women involved organising bazaars, sitting on committees for a variety of organisations, visiting duties and general voluntary work.[1]  This wasn’t to say that these women did not give generously to causes, but this view simplifies the contribution these women were making to local communities.  

The Northampton Boot and Shoe Industry has many examples of women’s philanthropy connected to it through the actions of the wives and daughters of prominent manufacturers within the town.  The move to factory manufacture on the industry in the 1850s saw an increased wealth for the business owners and in turn their wives and families. My research looks at these women and shows how, often through their husband’s increased income, they were able to participate in many of these public-spirited activities, sometimes on behalf of their husbands’ civic roles as Mayor and Mayoress, and sometimes influencing their husbands to donate to some of their favourites causes.

Looking for examples of women’s philanthropy is not the easiest task. With the women being researched for this project it involves a lot of searching through newspaper articles but often for their husbands. Even when listed in their own capacity they will still be mentioned in the capacity of their husband, for example, this blog will look at some of the activities of Catherine Lewis who was Mayoress in Northampton in 1923.

Catherine Lewis nee Adams was married to Boot and Shoe Manufacturer Thomas Davies Lewis, one of the owners of C & E Lewis, based in St James, Northampton. Her pursuits into public life were summed up by a local commentator when she was due to become Mayoress who said;

“[she] does not love the lime-light, but she has done a great deal of useful work…… Since her marriage, sha has been a member of Doddridge Memorial Church, and everyone in St. James’ knows how deeply invested she has been and is, in all its activities.”[2]

Catherine Lewis was not only a member of the church, but she was also the secretary of the Church Sewing Party, a position she took on a temporary basis after the stepping down of Mrs. Leach (she stayed in position for thirty years!).[3]  

Along with her husband, Catherine donated a house in Shutlanger to the Northamptonshire Sunday School Union in 1919 to use as a holiday home for ailing children in the Sunday Schools.[4]

Away from the Church she was heavily involved in the Women’s Total Abstinence Association and the Northampton Women’s Liberal Association, showing sympathy for her husband’s political leanings.[5] Catherine was the Vice-President of the Northampton Women’s Liberal Association in 1926 and was elected president of the St James’ Women’s Liberal Association in 1931.[6]

Although there is evidence of Catherine Lewis giving monetary donations including bequeathing £250 (approx. £9,400 today) to Bethany Homestead upon her death, much of her philanthropic work was for local organisations and, particularly with her work with the Doddridge Memorial Church, prior to her husband becoming Mayor.

Catherine Lewis’s philanthropic activities show that women had many opportunities to participate in public life. Whether these were increased due to her husband’s position on the Council or as Mayor of Northampton we can only guess. However, that doesn’t detract from the good works that she participated in. There are a number of women like Catherine, who were married to prominent Boot and Shoe Manufacturers in Northampton, and were involved in philanthropic and public activity. By researching these women, I hope to show that it was the women who influenced many of the good deeds that the men are famed for.

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[1] Frank Prochaska, Women and Philanthropy in 19^th Century England,

[2]Northampton Daily Echo, 27^th October 1923

[3] E. F. Poole, The History of Doddridge Memorial Congregational Church, Northampton. (Northampton: Independent Press, 1947)

[4] Northampton Daily Echo 4 June 1921

[5] Northampton Daily Echo 27^th October 1923

[6] Northampton Daily Echo 22 January 1931

(This blog post was originally posted in March 2022 for the History Bites blog but as that seems to be no longer active I have reposted here).