The fight for women’s suffrage in the UK grew and gained momentum throughout the Victorian era. WSPU activists, known as suffragettes, engaged in all sorts of law-breaking activities to raise the profile of the movement. At the time, these actions were considered shocking and divided public opinion, but suffragettes remained resolute. Thousands were arrested, imprisoned and force-fed.
Collection: Women's Suffrage
Postcard: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh
Blank postcard (No.163) produced by the Museum of London in 1993. The front features a black and white photograph of Princess Sophia Duleep Singh holding a copy of The Suffragette newspaper.
Poster: Torturing Women in Prison
Framed reproduction of a poster published by the WSPU in Votes for Women newspaper on 29th October 1909, depicting the forcible feeding of a suffragette prisoner.
Print: To the Dear Love of Comrades: in Memory of Flora Murray
Framed digital pigment fine art print on paper by Glasgow-based artist Fiona Dean, celebrating the life and work of Flora Murray, a medical doctor and an active and prominent member of the WSPU.
They Went To Prison; The Suffragette Fellowship
Slim document titled ‘They Went to Prison’ featuring a photograph captioned ‘A Suffragette In Prison Being Force Fed (about 1914)’ and a roll of honour of suffragette prisoners from 1905 to 1914.
Suffragette Pennies
Defacing coins was a criminal act that could lead to a prison sentence. Using small change meant that the coin was more likely to remain in circulation for years. A few coins with ‘VOTES FOR WOMEN’ hand stamped over the king’s head have been attributed to the suffragette movement but many fakes are in circulation.
Pro- and Anti-Women’s Suffrage Postcards
The years spanning the height of militant suffrage activism coincided with ‘The Golden Age of Postcards’ (1900-1918). New technologies in printing and photography, changes in regulatory restrictions and the standardisation […]
John Bull print: Sermons in Stones
‘John Bull (to Non-militant Suffragist): “I could listen more attentively, Madam, to your pleas, were it not for these concrete arguments which I find rather distracting.” ‘
Sculpture: In the Hands of the Proletariat
Polished stones marked with the words ‘In the hands of the proletariat’ made for the ‘Our Red Aunt exhibition at GWL by New Zealand-based artist Fiona Jack, the great grand-niece of Scottish activist and suffragette Helen Crawfurd.
Postcard: This is “THE HOUSE” that man built (Pro)
B.B. London Series no. E.23: captioned “This is “THE HOUSE” that man built, And these are the Members who’ve been sitting late Coming out arm in arm, from a lengthy […]