Mrs Emma Sproson

Other sources: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4769024
http://www.wolverhamptonhistory.org.uk/politics/women/emma/photo
https://nicolagauld.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/emmas-prison-experience/
Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866?1928 (1999)

Database linked sources: https://www.suffrageresources.org.uk/resource/3229/the-womens-freedom-league

Family information: Married Frank Sproson in 1896, a postman and artist and secretary of the Wolverhampton branch of the Independent Labour Party (ILP).

Additional Information: Emma had started part-time work aged nine and left school aged 13. She worked as a domestic servant but educated herself, becoming very articulate. She had supported the law-abiding suffrage movement in various ways for many years but joined the WSPU after her husband invited Emmeline Pankhurst to speak at the Wolverhampton branch of the Independent Labour Party (ILP). Emma was also a member of the ILP. She used local newspapers to promote the women's suffrage cause and was arrested in 1907 at a meeting in London at an alternative 'Women's Parliament', organised by the WSPU. She was sentenced to two weeks in prison, which was was very difficult emotionally and financially for her because she had two young children at home, including a six-month-old baby. In 1907, despite the risks, she took part in a deputation to the House of Commons and was arrested and sentenced to one month in prison. On her release she held a meeting in Wolverhampton, and toured around the Black Country (an industrial area now in the West Midlands county) arguing against women's low wages and poor working conditions. Emma left the WSPU for the breakaway group the Women's Freedom League (WFL) in 1907, likely because of the WSPU and the Pankhursts' break from the ILP. By 1908, she was chairman of the Wolverhampton branch of the WFL and undertook extensive countrywide speaking tours. In 1911, Emma also joined the Women's Tax Resistance League (WTRL). She was sent to prison for a week for refusing to pay for a dog licence. She went on hunger strike until she was moved from the third to the first class prisoner division, usually given to political prisoners. Sadly, the police shot her dog. By 1912, Emma had become disillusioned with the leadership style of the WFL and resigned. Afterwards, she had nothing to do with suffrage politics, focusing instead on improving social conditions for working class people in her own community and beyond.

Other Suffrage Activities: In 1919 and in 1920, Emma stood as a Labour Party candidate in the local Wolverhampton council elections. She finally won a seat in 1921 and was re-elected in 1924.