GB 106 TWL.photograph - Museum Collection: Photograph Collection

Identity area

Reference code

GB 106 TWL.photograph

Title

Museum Collection: Photograph Collection

Date(s)

  • 1869-1998 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

820 photographs (plus c.2,500 postcards identified in the archives)

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Repository

Archival history

GB 106 TWL.photograph 1869-1998 Collection (fonds) 820 photographs (plus c.2,500 postcards identified in the archives) The Women's Library

A large proportion of The Women's Library Photograph Collection is comprised of portraits of famous women and significant individuals in women's campaigning. There is also a range of photographs of the birthplaces, burial places and funerals of prominent women.

The main strength of the collection is in the group of photographs that represent suffrage campaigning. The images represent a wide range of activities such as suffrage arrests, elections, petitions, demonstrations, processions and exhibitions.

The work undertaken by women on the Home and Western fronts is recorded in a number of photographs taken during the First and Second World Wars.

There is a limited, but growing, range of photographs that document post-suffrage women's campaigning such as feminist work during the 1970s and 1980s, in the form of arrests and demonstrations. There are images relating to a few of the many 20th century women's organisations and their activities, such as conferences and debates.

A small number of photographs grouped by subject illustrate women's everyday experiences in areas such as sport and education.

Although focussing on the United Kingdom, the international nature of campaigning means that a number of international women or places are represented in this collection.

Arranged by subject.

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit. Objects from Photograph Collection may be requested for research in the Reading Room.

Engllish

Images of some of these photographs can be seen in The Women's Library online catalogue. The Women's Library uses Mary Evans Picture Library (MEPL) to provide images from its collections, see www.maryevans.com.

The Women's Library holds almost 500 archives, the majority of which contain photographs. The archives focus on women's campaigning organisations and the personal archives of campaigners. The Women's Library Archives also contain photographs, often scattered throughout the records. Primarily these were photographs taken by individuals and organisations in the course of their lives and work, often celebrating particular events. Occasionally the photographs are portraits or publicity photographs - these photographs are more likely to have been taken by a professional photographer. The subject matter is similar to that found in the Museum Photograph Collection. The photographs located in the archives are not always catalogued as individual items, they are often catalogued as bundles or as albums. They are also often included as correspondence, or in diaries or reports and are not identified at item level in the catalogue. Key archives that contain significant numbers of photographs include the following (dates given are the dates covered by the photographs):

  • Records of the Association for Moral and Social Hygiene, 4.5 boxes of over 400 photographs individually catalogued - mainly portraits of international campaigners (reference 3AMS/G, dates c.1850-c.1946)

  • Records of the International Alliance of Women 5 boxes of photographs relating to International Conferences and work projects (reference 2IAW/1/J, dates 1909-1989)

  • Records of the St Joan's International Alliance 2 folders of photographs relating to international suffrage (reference 2SJA/K, dates c.1900-1978)

  • Records of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, 50 folders of loose photographs relating to people (founders, international visitors, members), branches, Denman College, activities (crafts, music, drama, community work) etc. (reference 5FWI/I, dates c.1940-2000)· Records of Greenham Common Women (Yellow Gate) 1 box of photographs taken at Greenham Common, or at related events (reference 5GCW/J, dates c.1982-2002)

  • Records of The Girls' Friendly Society over 100 folders of loose photographs relating to the GFS, its members, events, conferences, educational work, music and drama, clubs, buildings, overseas visits etc. (reference 5GFS/11, datesc.1920-1999)

  • Papers of A Muriel Pierotti. This archive includes a variety of photographs on women's campaigning, especially equal pay campaigns in the 1950s. It also includes still photographs from the film 'To Be A Woman' written, produced, and directed by Jill Craigie. Outlook Film Productions. 70 photographs (reference 7AMP/C/6/2, dated 1949)

  • Papers of Elsie Edith Bowerman. This archive includes photographs of the Scottish Women's Hospital expedition in Russia (Serbia) and of Bowerman's personal life (friends, holidays etc). 2 albums (c.200 objects) (reference 7ELB/A/7-8, dates 1913-1924)

  • Papers of Emily Wilding Davison over 60 photographs related to militant suffrage activities (reference 7EWD/J, dates 1908-1914)

  • Papers of H Pearl Adam (journalist) over 75 photographs interleaved in Adam's diaries. The photographs relate mainly to Adams' friends, holidays etc. (reference 7HPA, dates 1896-1956.

  • Papers of Kathleen D'Olier Courtney (internationalist and feminist) over 50 photographs. The photographs relate mainly to Courtney's family and friends, including portraits, and events (reference 7KDC, dates 1881-1973)

  • Papers of Louisa Garrett Anderson (physician) 26 photographs. As well as portraits, these photographs relate to the early provision of women and children's hospitals; suffrage activities; and The Women's Hospital Corps medical activities in Paris and London during the First World War (reference 7LGA, dates 1875-1922 )

  • Papers of Margery Irene Corbett Ashby (internationalist and feminist) 6 folders of photographs including portraits, family, friends and holidays. It also includes some photographs of First World War rehabilitation of soldiers in Lowestoft hospital and an International Alliance of Women conference in India; (reference 7MCA/D, dates 1907-1979)

  • Papers of Teresa Billington Greig (suffragist) 31 photographs of suffragettes - mainly portraits (reference 7TBG/2/W, dates 1906-1958)

  • Papers of Vera (Jack) Holme 6 albums of photographs relating to Holme's life: youth and friendships; women's suffrage movement; First World War and aid work in Serbia; Yugoslavia and foreign travel (reference 7VJH/5, dates 1900-1959)

    A search using the 'object name' field and the word 'photograph' will bring up all postcards catalogued at item level in the museum and archive collections. As from 2004 archive catalogues at The Women's Library try to identify individual postcards using the 'ObjectName' field. However users specifically interested in this format should also search for 'photograph*' in the any text field to discover additional reference to photograph/s across the collections.

    Museum Collection description by Gail Cameron, The Women's Library Dec 2006. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.

    General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

    Feb 2009. Womens liberation movement World War Two (1939-1945) Sex distribution Sex Women Wars (events) World wars (events) Internal politics World War One (1914-1918) Electoral systems Womens suffrage Liberation movements Political movements Broom , Christina , 1862-1939 , known as Mrs Albert Broom , nee Livingston , photographer

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

A large proportion of The Women's Library Photograph Collection is comprised of portraits of famous women and significant individuals in women's campaigning. There is also a range of photographs of the birthplaces, burial places and funerals of prominent women.

The main strength of the collection is in the group of photographs that represent suffrage campaigning. The images represent a wide range of activities such as suffrage arrests, elections, petitions, demonstrations, processions and exhibitions.

The work undertaken by women on the Home and Western fronts is recorded in a number of photographs taken during the First and Second World Wars.

There is a limited, but growing, range of photographs that document post-suffrage women's campaigning such as feminist work during the 1970s and 1980s, in the form of arrests and demonstrations. There are images relating to a few of the many 20th century women's organisations and their activities, such as conferences and debates.

A small number of photographs grouped by subject illustrate women's everyday experiences in areas such as sport and education.

Although focussing on the United Kingdom, the international nature of campaigning means that a number of international women or places are represented in this collection.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Arranged by subject.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit. Objects from Photograph Collection may be requested for research in the Reading Room.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Engllish

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

The Women's Library holds almost 500 archives, the majority of which contain photographs. The archives focus on women's campaigning organisations and the personal archives of campaigners. The Women's Library Archives also contain photographs, often scattered throughout the records. Primarily these were photographs taken by individuals and organisations in the course of their lives and work, often celebrating particular events. Occasionally the photographs are portraits or publicity photographs - these photographs are more likely to have been taken by a professional photographer. The subject matter is similar to that found in the Museum Photograph Collection. The photographs located in the archives are not always catalogued as individual items, they are often catalogued as bundles or as albums. They are also often included as correspondence, or in diaries or reports and are not identified at item level in the catalogue. Key archives that contain significant numbers of photographs include the following (dates given are the dates covered by the photographs):

  • Records of the Association for Moral and Social Hygiene, 4.5 boxes of over 400 photographs individually catalogued - mainly portraits of international campaigners (reference 3AMS/G, dates c.1850-c.1946)

  • Records of the International Alliance of Women 5 boxes of photographs relating to International Conferences and work projects (reference 2IAW/1/J, dates 1909-1989)

  • Records of the St Joan's International Alliance 2 folders of photographs relating to international suffrage (reference 2SJA/K, dates c.1900-1978)

  • Records of the National Federation of Women's Institutes, 50 folders of loose photographs relating to people (founders, international visitors, members), branches, Denman College, activities (crafts, music, drama, community work) etc. (reference 5FWI/I, dates c.1940-2000)· Records of Greenham Common Women (Yellow Gate) 1 box of photographs taken at Greenham Common, or at related events (reference 5GCW/J, dates c.1982-2002)

  • Records of The Girls' Friendly Society over 100 folders of loose photographs relating to the GFS, its members, events, conferences, educational work, music and drama, clubs, buildings, overseas visits etc. (reference 5GFS/11, datesc.1920-1999)

  • Papers of A Muriel Pierotti. This archive includes a variety of photographs on women's campaigning, especially equal pay campaigns in the 1950s. It also includes still photographs from the film 'To Be A Woman' written, produced, and directed by Jill Craigie. Outlook Film Productions. 70 photographs (reference 7AMP/C/6/2, dated 1949)

  • Papers of Elsie Edith Bowerman. This archive includes photographs of the Scottish Women's Hospital expedition in Russia (Serbia) and of Bowerman's personal life (friends, holidays etc). 2 albums (c.200 objects) (reference 7ELB/A/7-8, dates 1913-1924)

  • Papers of Emily Wilding Davison over 60 photographs related to militant suffrage activities (reference 7EWD/J, dates 1908-1914)

  • Papers of H Pearl Adam (journalist) over 75 photographs interleaved in Adam's diaries. The photographs relate mainly to Adams' friends, holidays etc. (reference 7HPA, dates 1896-1956.

  • Papers of Kathleen D'Olier Courtney (internationalist and feminist) over 50 photographs. The photographs relate mainly to Courtney's family and friends, including portraits, and events (reference 7KDC, dates 1881-1973)

  • Papers of Louisa Garrett Anderson (physician) 26 photographs. As well as portraits, these photographs relate to the early provision of women and children's hospitals; suffrage activities; and The Women's Hospital Corps medical activities in Paris and London during the First World War (reference 7LGA, dates 1875-1922 )

  • Papers of Margery Irene Corbett Ashby (internationalist and feminist) 6 folders of photographs including portraits, family, friends and holidays. It also includes some photographs of First World War rehabilitation of soldiers in Lowestoft hospital and an International Alliance of Women conference in India; (reference 7MCA/D, dates 1907-1979)

  • Papers of Teresa Billington Greig (suffragist) 31 photographs of suffragettes - mainly portraits (reference 7TBG/2/W, dates 1906-1958)

  • Papers of Vera (Jack) Holme 6 albums of photographs relating to Holme's life: youth and friendships; women's suffrage movement; First World War and aid work in Serbia; Yugoslavia and foreign travel (reference 7VJH/5, dates 1900-1959)

    A search using the 'object name' field and the word 'photograph' will bring up all postcards catalogued at item level in the museum and archive collections. As from 2004 archive catalogues at The Women's Library try to identify individual postcards using the 'ObjectName' field. However users specifically interested in this format should also search for 'photograph*' in the any text field to discover additional reference to photograph/s across the collections.

Finding aids

Images of some of these photographs can be seen in The Women's Library online catalogue. The Women's Library uses Mary Evans Picture Library (MEPL) to provide images from its collections, see www.maryevans.com.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Women's Library

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area