ALISS Womens History Month showcase 2026
see our showcase of Art and crafts women
https://womenahistorymonth.my.canva.site/womenshistorymonth2026
Elizabeth Crawford- The British Women’s Suffrage Movement in 100 objects
Provided a fascinating preview of her forthcoming book The British Women’s Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects: a material history – to be published in paperback by Bloomsbury Academic in July 2026.
The book uses a sequence of 100 objects, to relate the history of the British ‘votes for women’ campaign from tentative beginnings in 1866 to the granting of the vote to all women on the same terms as men in 1928. Bringing the story up to date, the last few objects highlight the way the campaign has subsequently been shaped and celebrated. This book owes a great deal to material held in the Women’s Library at LSE, as well as in private collections.
Elizabeth is an independent researcher and for decades ran a business selling antiquarian books and ephemera by and about women, specialising in the suffrage movement. Among her books are The Women’s Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866-1928 (1999), Enterprising Women: The Garretts and Their Circle (2002), The Women’s Suffrage Movement in Britain and Ireland: A Regional Survey (2005), and Art and Suffrage: a biographical dictionary of suffrage artists (2018).
Key items highlighted by her talk included
the 1866 women’s suffrage petition
John Stuart Mill MP presented the first mass women’s suffrage petition to the House of Commons on 7 June 1866. The petition was brought to Parliament by Emily Davies and Elizabeth Garrett.
the lse holds originals copies of letters between Barbara Bodichon and Helen Taylor about the possibility of organising the petition and getting Mills(Taylor’s stepfather to present it to parliament) Helen writes that she only hopes they get enough signatures so it does not appear insignificant
in a very short period of time they got over 1400
The Women’s Suffrage Journal founded in 1870 by Lydia Becker
https://digital.library.lse.ac.uk/Documents/Detail/womens-suffrage-journal.-mar-1-1870/183360
in 1870 to promote women’s voting rights. Running until her death in 1890, it published news on legal, social, and political issues affecting women and provided advice on organising and petitioning parliament.
in 1870 to promote women’s voting rights. Running until her death in 1890, it published news on legal, social, and political issues affecting women and provided advice on organising and petitioning parliament.
A haversack used by suffragist campaigners on the Great pilgrimage of 1913
a non violent march organised across the UK by women to campaign for the vote during the summer of 1913
Get the book to see the amazing style. I saw a description here
in Common Cause June 13 1913 where it refers to light and serviceable haversacks in union colours. The page has some commercial ads for suitable clothing for pilgrims too
Helen Burton and Ash Coffey (Keele University Library)
Women’s Activism, Material Culture and the North Staffordshire Miners’ Wives Action Group Archive
The presenters Explored the NSMWAG Archive at Keele University, the role of material culture in preserving women’s activism, and reflected on why such collections matter.
It featured examples of student engagement as captured on this blog from Special Collections and Archives work placement student
Rebecca Wells
this includes images of some of the amazing banners
they also talked about creative responses to the materials such as the play the Miner Birds by Lisa Blower
Ursula Ackrill, Special Collections Librarian and Sarah Colborne, Collections Archivist with Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of Nottingham
Feminist Archives at the University of Nottingham
The presenters shared how surviving remnants of material culture produced by second wave feminists are being used to engage with younger generations through badge making, zine making workshops and in teaching on modules whose subject overlaps with feminist thought and history. They provided insight into how co-creating learning experiences with students has guided some GenZ peoples’ thinking on organising protests of their own.
Feminist Archive (East Midlands) and Feminist Publications Collection, Manuscripts and Special Collections, University of Nottingham:https://nott.ac/FeministCollections
Hear some examples of oral history clips
Some materials from the dear sisters exhibition are archived on the website dear sisters: activists’ archives – The University of Nottingham
alissnet.com 