Museum of London discovers unknown Suffragettes in 11-month programme

The project will mark a centenary since women were given the vote in the UK.

Surveillance photograph of the suffragette Gibson (Museum of London/PA)

The Museum of London will delve into the untold stories of Suffragettes in a new 11-month programme exploring their political and social legacy.

Votes For Women – a project including events, displays and a new film – will open in February, marking a full century since women were given the right to vote in the UK in February 1918.

The displays will present pieces from the museum’s Suffragette collection, which it describes as the largest in the world relating to the movement’s militant campaign, demonstrating the impact of the story on society between 1903 and 1914.

Surveillance image of the suffragette prisoner Grace Marcon, alias 'Frieda Graham 1913-1914. — Surveillance image of the suffragette prisoner Grace Marcon, alias Frieda Graham 1913-1914 (Museum of London/PA)

Their actions, which included protest, disruption and damage to property led to the arrest and imprisonment of more than 1,000 women.

Among the women featured will be Emily “Kitty” Willoughby Marchall, who was arrested six times and imprisoned in Holloway three times for her militant actions, including a sentence in November 1910 for throwing a potato at a window of the residence of then Home Secretary, Winston Churchill.

Louise Eates will also be mentioned for her role as a founding member and secretary of the Kensington branch of the Women’s Social and Political Union, along with mother Winefride Mary Rix who was sentenced to two months’ hard labour for smashing a window at the War Office.

Suffragette prisoners exercise in the yard of Holloway Prison. — Suffragette prisoners exercise in the yard of Holloway Prison (Museum of London/PA)

The programme will feature highlights such as personal items belonging to imprisoned Suffragettes – including Emmeline Pankhurst’s hunger strike medal – as well as a family-friendly weekend festival, an adult literary event and a Suffragette bus tour of London.

Beverley Cook, the museum’s social and working history curator said: “The centenary commemoration has provided the opportunity to take a fresh look at the Votes for Women campaign, its legacy and relevance to contemporary life.

Surveillance photograph of Mary Richardson 1914. — Surveillance photograph of Mary Richardson 1914 (Museum of London/PA)

“The museum’s programme will provide a dynamic interpretation of the collection and bring many images and objects into public view for the first time.”

Votes For Women will be open at the Museum of London from February 2 2018, to January 6 2019.