The Tax Resistance League was established in 1909 with the aim of organising female resistance to taxation levied without any correspondent representation through voting rights. The organisation carried on a form of protest that dated back to 1870 when the Priestman sisters refused to pay income tax. The foundation occurred at a meeting held by Louisa Garrett Anderson that was attended by supporters of the Women's Freedom League including Cicely Hamilton and Dr Kate Aslam. By July 1910 the League had 104 members. Those who followed its principles, and whose actions extended to refusing to pay for certain types of licences, Inhabited House Duty, dog licenses, servants licences, etc were liable to have goods seized or be put in prison. House clearances by bailiffs were used as an opportunity to hold open-air suffrage meetings and the group was also involved in resistance to the census in 1911. The League held meetings in the premises of both the National Union for Women's Suffrage Societies and the Women's Social and Political Union, but overtures to many local organisations were refused due to opposition to the illegality of their actions. It held conferences in 1911 and 1912 and became part of the Federated Council of Women's Suffrage in 1912. At the outbreak of the First World War, an urgency committee ordered that the League's activities be suspended and a subsequent meeting of members confirmed this resolution, though the resolution was only passed by one vote. No more meetings were held until 1916 when they took part in the Consultative Committee of Constitutional Women's Suffrage Societies established by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies in response to the government proposed changes to the national electoral register at the end of the war. A final meeting was held in 1918 after the vote was granted to women in order to officially wind up the organisation and dispose of its assets.
Published
Women's Library
Records of the Tax Resistance League, 1909-1919, comprising annual reports, leaflets and pamphlets.
The Women's Library also holds the records of the London Society for Women's Suffrage (2LSW) which contain correspondence, leaflets and pamphlets with the Tax Resistance League. See also the Scrapbook of Press Cuttings relating to Tax Resistance (10/21).
The Women's Library Printed Collection holds pamphlets by the Tax Resistance League including campaigning literature such as 'Why we resist our taxes' by Margaret Kineton Parkes. See especially the UDC collection 396.11 : 336.2.
The Women's Library Museum Collections holds badges and postcards related to the Tax Resistance League and to the 'No Vote No Tax' procession 7 Oct 1911.
GB 0106 2WTR 1909-1919 Fonds 0.5 box Women's Tax Resistance League
The Tax Resistance League was established in 1909 with the aim of organising female resistance to taxation levied without any correspondent representation through voting rights. The organisation carried on a form of protest that dated back to 1870 when the Priestman sisters refused to pay income tax. The foundation occurred at a meeting held by Louisa Garrett Anderson that was attended by supporters of the Women's Freedom League including Cicely Hamilton and Dr Kate Aslam. By July 1910 the League had 104 members. Those who followed its principles, and whose actions extended to refusing to pay for certain types of licences, Inhabited House Duty, dog licenses, servants licences, etc were liable to have goods seized or be put in prison. House clearances by bailiffs were used as an opportunity to hold open-air suffrage meetings and the group was also involved in resistance to the census in 1911. The League held meetings in the premises of both the National Union for Women's Suffrage Societies and the Women's Social and Political Union, but overtures to many local organisations were refused due to opposition to the illegality of their actions. It held conferences in 1911 and 1912 and became part of the Federated Council of Women's Suffrage in 1912. At the outbreak of the First World War, an urgency committee ordered that the League's activities be suspended and a subsequent meeting of members confirmed this resolution, though the resolution was only passed by one vote. No more meetings were held until 1916 when they took part in the Consultative Committee of Constitutional Women's Suffrage Societies established by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies in response to the government proposed changes to the national electoral register at the end of the war. A final meeting was held in 1918 after the vote was granted to women in order to officially wind up the organisation and dispose of its assets.
Records of the Tax Resistance League, 1909-1919, comprising annual reports, leaflets and pamphlets.
This collection is open for consultation. Intending readers are advise to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.
English
The Women's Library also holds the records of the London Society for Women's Suffrage (2LSW) which contain correspondence, leaflets and pamphlets with the Tax Resistance League. See also the Scrapbook of Press Cuttings relating to Tax Resistance (10/21).
The Women's Library Printed Collection holds pamphlets by the Tax Resistance League including campaigning literature such as 'Why we resist our taxes' by Margaret Kineton Parkes. See especially the UDC collection 396.11 : 336.2.
The Women's Library Museum Collections holds badges and postcards related to the Tax Resistance League and to the 'No Vote No Tax' procession 7 Oct 1911.
Created and used with the kind permission of the Archives Hub. Amended by Genesis Project Manager, May 2002. Fawcett Library Catalogue dated Oct 1973. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery. In compliance with ISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, 1995; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. 16/10/2001; Jan 2009 Haslam , Kate , fl 1900 , suffragist Harberton , Florence , 1844-1911 , Viscountess , suffragist Hamilton , Cicely , 1872-1952 , writer and actor Florence , Mary Sargant , 1858-1954 , artist and suffragist Benett , Sarah , 1850-1924 , social reformer and suffragist Ansell , Gertrude Mary , 1861-1932 , businesswoman, suffragist and animal rights activist Political movements Anderson , Louisa , 1873-1943 , suffragist and surgeon Rights of special groups Womens rights Internal politics Electoral systems Womens suffrage Fiscal policy Taxation Finance Housman , Clemence Annie , 1861-1955 , artist and suffragette Martyn , Edith , How- , 1875-1954 , suffragist and feminist x How-Martyn , Edith Nevinson , Margaret Wynne , 1858-1932 , suffragette and writer Wilks , Elizabeth , 1866-1956 , nee Bennett , physician and suffragist Federated Council of Suffrage Societies Tax Resistance League Women's Freedom League
This collection is open for consultation. Intending readers are advise to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.