Access a variety of podcasts, film, articles and case studies of suffrage campaigners to support subject knowledge for both teachers and students, covering the history of women at the hustings from the 17th century right up to questions of citizenship and equality today. There are also a number of fully resourced history enquiries and citizenship activities in the Activities section.
The database of suffrage campaigners features more than 40 different suffrage societies: from the well-known NUWSS and WSPU to smaller local organisations, trade affiliations and religious groups.
Suffrage database researcher Tara Morton outlines the different societies in the guidance below, with simplified and detailed versions available for students and teachers....
Women who were involved in suffrage campaigning sometimes used false names or aliases, occasionally to protect their families from unfair treatment by those opposed to women’s suffrage, but most often by law-breaking suffragettes wishing to evade the police and confuse the authorities. Several suffragette aliases were known to the police and...
Below are some links to online resources which we found useful when putting together the database and other materials for this website. If you have any suggestions for additional resources, please email suffrage@history.org.uk.
Women and politics from the 15th to 19th centuries
Women at the Polls in the 17th Century (History of...
When, as a researcher, I was asked to take part in the Historical Association’s new Women’s Suffrage Resources project for schools, and to populate the database for it, I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t? I was presented with an opportunity to delve into the archives, reaching back in time...
Born: 1847
Died: 1929
Occupation: Women’s suffrage campaigner
Claim to fame: Led the largest law-abiding suffrage society, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)
Millicent Garrett was born in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, the younger sister to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson. In 1867, Millicent married Henry Fawcett, a professor of political economy...
Born: 1878
Died: 1964
Occupation: Cotton mill worker
Claim to fame: She wrote a diary while in prison of her suffragist activities
Mary Ann was born in Lancashire in 1878, becoming a cotton mill worker at the age of ten. In 1900, she married Francis Rawle, an iron turner, with...
Born: 1871
Died: 1950?
Occupation: Working woman
Claim to fame: She was a working-class campaigner with a physical disability
Adelaide Knight came from a tough working-class background in Bethnal Green, London. Her father, a hairdresser and alcoholic, committed suicide when she was young and she suffered from an injury as...
Born: 1863
Died: 1947
Occupation: Factory worker
Claim to fame: Helped to establish the Leicester branch of the WSPU and was arrested five times
Alice Riley was born into a working- class family in Staffordshire. She left school at13 to work in a shoe factory in Leicester. In 1882, she...
Born: 1830
Died: 1921
Occupation: Social campaigner, writer
Claims to fame: Campaigner for the improvement of women’s education. She became one of the first mistresses of Girton College.
Early life
Originally from Southampton, Emily moved with her family to Gateshead in the north-east of England when she was young. There she established...
Born: 1820
Died: 1873
Occupation: Businessman
Claim to fame: A male campaigner active in the early suffrage movement
George was born in Trieste, Austria, and moved to England in 1845, becoming a successful merchant – so successful that he survived an ‘assassination’ attempt by a jealous business rival! George settled...
