Suffragettes and Suffragists in Scotland Many women in Edinburgh, and throughout Scotland, were involved in the fight for women’s suffrage. In conjunction with the Lyceum Theatre’s performances of Age of Arousal and Cat and Mouse, research student Megan O’Brien has researched just some of their stories.
Suffragettes versus Suffragists Numerous organisations emerged to centralise efforts and raise awareness of the need to improve women’s rights. Each came with their own agenda and means by which to achieve such. Attaining the vote was the main long-term focus though others worked to better the position of women demanding more direct immediate changes. The most prominent organisations were as follows... WSPU –The Women’s Social and Political Union
Colours: Green, White and Violet Stance: Militant Responsible for organising Edinburgh’s Gude Cause March.
NUWSS – The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies inc. ENSWS – The Edinburgh National Society for Women’s Suffrage
Colours: Red and White Stance: Peaceful protest Edinburgh branch was to be found on Shandwick Place in the West End (not too far from the Lyceum.)
WFL – The Women’s Freedom League
Colours: Gold, Green & White Stance: Militant but not violent The Edinburgh branch was located on Forrest Road.
There is an important distinction to be made here. Those who campaigned peacefully (but by no means passively) were known as suffragists. Those who campaigned with more direct, militant often violent action became known as suffragettes. Notably many women were affiliated with multiple organisations. Many shifted their allegiance throughout the course of their activism, some choosing to favour more militancy, fearing petitioning and rhetoric was simply not enough. The direct nature of such actions gained them considerable attention, but others chose to renounce such a direct tack fearing it could tarnish the very nature of the cause and do more harm than good. Indeed, in Age of Arousal, the character Mary Barefoot is a former militant suffragette but she bid farewell to her days of fierce militant action in favour a more peaceful, pragmatic approach. The Remington Typewriter became her new key to freedom.
Chrystal Macmillan A passionate pacifist and Scottish Suffragist Born the only girl of nine to a wealthy Edinburgh family on 13 June 1872 was one focused individual who grew to make great contributions to the efforts of the Scottish Suffrage Movement - Jessie Chrystal Macmillan. Following an esteemed education in St.Andrews, Chrystal (as she was best known) became one of the first women to matriculate at the University of Edinburgh. Her extensive educational career involved reading mathematics, natural philosophy, moral philosophy and logic. In April 1896 she reaped the benefits and gained a first class honours Bachelor of Science degree, becoming the first women ever to do so within such a male-dominated domain. In the early 1900’s Macmillan turned her efforts towards the assistance of the Scottish Suffrage campaign, becoming a member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and their local constituent the Edinburgh National Society for Women’s Suffrage. Given her academic accolade she quickly gained esteem from within the movement and was made honorary secretary and treasurer of a committee of women graduates from Scottish Universities. She gained further regard when in 1908 she became the first woman to plead before the House of Lords, advocating the entitlement of female graduates to the vote. Unfortunately her case was rejected though she did gain worldwide publicity for the cause. Shortly after, she moved to London where she exercised her political understanding further, publishing pamphlets and periodicals documenting The Struggle towards the emancipation of Women. A renowned pacifist, she voiced the opinion of peace-seeking women when war broke out in 1914 going on to co-found the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. A powerful politic she stood as a delegate of the Paris Peace Conference and encouraged the founding of the League of Nations. She was also instrumental in establishing Open Door International for the Economic Emancipation of the Women Worker. In 1924 she was called to the English bar. As a barrister she specialised in conjugal legislation helping educated and working women achieve greater autonomy within the institution of marriage. Chrystal Macmillan sought freedom, identity, peace and equality beyond the constraints of class, nationality, sex or marital status. She used her intelligence and wit to work towards these ambitions and inevitably helped create a society in which these liberties are better acknowledged and embraced. Chrystal Macmillan died in 1937, aged 65, following a heart attack at her home, 8 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh.
Her enormous contributions have been commemorated by the University of Edinburgh with a memorial plaque at Kings Buildings, the campus for natural sciences, and a building in her name housing the School of Social and Political Studies. Her former family home is also a famous landmark, the mansion house lying at the centre of Edinburgh Zoo.
The following statement was issued by the School of Social and Political Studies regarding the naming of their departmental building in honour of Chrystal Macmillan: The School of Social and Political Studies wishes to name its newly refurbished building after Chrystal Macmillan as key aspects of her life and work relate to matters of central concern to the School including gender, international politics, human rights, personhood and social identity. The Millennial Plaque at King's Buildings erected in her honour uses her full name, Jessie Chrystal Macmillan but throughout her professional life she was invariably known as Chrystal Macmillan and the School wishes to name its refurbished building 'The Chrystal Macmillan Building'.
For further information you may wish to refer to... The Scottish Suffragettes by Leah Leneman (2000 - NMS Publishing Ltd, Edinburgh) http://bit.ly/fQ3Vzq National Library of Scotland archive images, articles, minutes, cartoons, letters, etc. http://bit.ly/ffBL8Y More archive images, articles, minutes, cartoons, letters, etc. http://bit.ly/eolnEg Online access to the Museum of Scotland's Votes for Women exhibition displays http://bit.ly/iiLPFN Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP - Votes for Women Debate http://bit.ly/fcDmlr Footage of the Gude Cause March
http://bit.ly/geRnuY An overview of the Scottish Suffrage Movement http://bit.ly/hapAkR More information on Chrystal Macmillan from education website, Spartacus http://bit.ly/f2r1IW More information on Chrystal Macmillan from Undiscovered Scotland http://bit.ly/hQryl3 More information on Chrystal Macmillan from Wikipedia http://bit.ly/htwY2n More information on the Women's Peace Party from education website, Spartacus
Elsie Inglis A dedicated Doctor, Feminist and Scottish Suffragist NUWSS Born in India, in August 1864, Elsie Inglis was a women set to transform the lives of many. Her father was a magistrate and civil servant in the heyday of the British Empire, though as a liberal become strongly opposed to the imperialist line and soon retired returning with the family to Edinburgh. An intelligent child with great support from her liberal father, Elsie began medical studies in late 1886 at the Sophia Jex-Blake Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women. Jex-Blake was a notoriously disagreeable character. With many rifts emerging between students and teachers Elsie decided to take action, establishing an alternative school, the New Medical College for Women. Elsie was especially studious, furthering her studies in both London and Dublin and always showing a great passion and application to her work. When her father died in 1894 she was shattered, and further immersed herself. Her grief laden efforts led to the establishment of a maternity hospital and midwifery resource centre on Edinburgh’s High Street and a women’s hospice with access for the poor. Ever caring and charitable, she often waived fees for those unable to pay. She also went on to head the running of the Bruntsfield Hospital, another Edinburgh based institution. In all her years working in the health care profession she witnessed many a time the results of male abuse, igniting and enraging her deep rooted feminist passions and liberal thinking. She had worked alongside Elizabeth Garret Anderson, sister to Millicent Garret Fawcett, and through this connection became increasingly involved in the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). A respected figure she soon became honorary secretary and then president of the Scottish Federation. Elsie was most definitely a suffragist, choosing not to resort to militancy - however the movement soon galvanised. In the early 1900’s more and more acts of direct action were instigated by the suffragists’ sister suffragettes. This served to bring greater attention to the cause and soon Inglis found her duties and involvement with the NUWSS increasing. Whilst she remained true to her non-violent standing, she contributed greatly to the cause by other means, rallying speakers and organising events and demonstrations. She became a key figure providing a source of medical expertise and proof of injustice inflicted upon women by men. When World War I broke out in 1914 Elsie, aged 50, was unwell though. However, ever active, she offered her services to the nation’s effort. Outrageously she was rejected by the War Office, patronisingly being told ‘my good lady, go home and sit still’. Elsie did no such thing. Instead, she offered her assistance to those more willing to accept. Inglis rallied funds via the Scottish Federation to establish all- women hospital units, with female doctors, administrators, drivers - with, in fact, all-female staff. This she believed would not only help
the healthcare system and war effort but would prove women’s worthiness to vote. With initial success established she extended this to the Scottish Women’s Hospitals and Foreign Service. Serb and French governments accepted the offer of assistance and provided funding, though she continued to receive nothing but conflict with home territories. From such humble beginnings, the organisation went on to have a mass impact internationally saving the lives of many. Most of her work was conducted in the field where it was most needed and appreciated. As such she and her colleagues and patients had to flee enemy lines numerous times. She lived a truly selfless life - in the face of danger and opposition she was a determined woman. She returned to Britain in November 1917, privately suffering from cancer. She died on 26 November 1917, just one day after her ship docked in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. As a mark of respect for her incredible efforts for the nation, her body was held in state in St.Giles' Cathedral, and Queen Mary is reported to have sent a message of condolence. Her funeral was held in Edinburgh and a further service was conducted in Westminster. Both were extremely well attended and among the congregations were many notable figures, international diplomats and delegates all paying their respects to this incredible woman’s international efforts. Elsie Inglis left behind a great legacy, having vastly contributed towards the improvement of the health, care and standing of both women and men in Scottish society and beyond. Today many medical institutions are named in her honour. More recently she was commemorated on a Clydesdale Bank £50 note.
For further information you may wish to refer to... http://bit.ly/fSS6ng More information on Elsie Inglis from Undiscovered Scotland http://bit.ly/gR3Q0J More information on Elsie Inglis from education website, Spartacus http://bit.ly/fUq00O More information on Elsie Inglis from Rampant Scotland http://bit.ly/hhOAM5 More information on the Scottish Women's Hospitals the National Archives http://bit.ly/eqvdG6 More information on Elsie Inglis from Learning and Teaching Scotland
Ethel Moorhead A formidably fierce Scottish Suffragette WSPU Born sometime circa 1870 was a child who would become infamous for her extreme acts of militancy in the fight for women’s rights. Ethel Agnes Mary Moorhead, daughter to an Irish Army surgeon, spent time living overseas as a child. On returning to Scotland the family settled in Dundee. Ethel briefly studied in Paris though largely remained a loyal daughter, caring for her parents at the family home. She was a talented artist and her work, encouraged by her father following her mother’s death in 1902, afforded her several successful exhibitions. In 1910 Ethel became a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), and in that very same year confirmed her militant stance when she boldly threw an egg in the direct line of Winston Churchill at a political meeting in Dundee. Ethel’s father, to whom she has been very close, passed away in 1912. Ethel felt the loss greatly and so moved to Edinburgh and began to immerse herself further in the suffrage campaign. At this time the fate of the right to vote was at a pivotal point. But when further parliamentary time for the case was denied Ethel, amongst others, decided direct action was demanded. A window smashing rampage began. Moorhead, joined by Janie Allan and Fanny Parker, two fellow fiery suffragettes, instigated a raid in London in March 1912, with their targets including the windows of Thomas Cook’s travel agents. Incredibly it was found that there was insufficient evidence to charge Ethel with the offence and so she was released. Moorhead went on to make her mark on many a pane of glass. Her next target in the autumn of 1912 was the case surrounding the William Wallace monument in Stirling, symbolic of the notion that fighting would be rewarded with freedom. She was arrested giving the pseudonym ‘Edith Johnson’ and spent one night in Stirling Jail before being moved to Perth for a further seven. Ethel began to build a reputation with the authorities for her insolence and rebelliousness. 1912 was a year laden with activity for Moorhead. She interrupted a political meeting in Broughton only to be brutally ejected. She quickly sought revenge, tracking down and attacking the man responsible for her removal. Placed in custody she caused havoc as she knew best, smashing the windows to her cell. In the December she stoned a car she believed to be carrying the chancellor. When arrested she offered another pseudonym ‘Mary Humphreys’ before being sentenced to 10 days in Craiginches Prison. True to form she made her mark on the windows of her cell before being released early due to the fine being settled by an anonymous contributor. 1913 was another year laden with militancy. She became one of the first Dundee women to refuse to pay super-tax. Then she was arrested under the name ‘Margaret Morrison’ after peppering a police officer outside a meeting with the Prime Minister. When behind bars she did her best to cause chaos, smashing glass and flooding the passage ways. She later embarked upon a hunger strike. When placed before the Sheriff Court she quite literally refused to stand and deliberately defied the conventions of the court room. She was imprisoned, but released under the Cat and Mouse Act.
In July she was arrested in Glasgow after being found in possession of fire-lighting equipment, this time offering the name ‘Margaret Morrison’. Her infamous behaviour and disrepute for authority, however, soon led to her true identity being discovered by the press. She was tried in October 1913, found guilty and imprisoned in Holloway where she immediately began a hunger strike. She was released and instructed to report back within seven days under the Cat and Mouse Act but, true to form, she defied, instead going on the run to commit more attentionworthy offences. Turning her hand from window smashing to torching, several arson attacks were committed during the period in which Moorhead was on the run. It wasn’t until February 1914 that the authorities caught up with her when she was spotted and arrested in the grounds of Traquair House, Peebles. Ethel was imprisoned in Calton Jail, immediately assuming a hunger, thirst and sleep strike. Armed with a tooth brush and a hat pin she defied the prison authorities to the best of her ability, jamming the door and stabbing those attempting to enter her cell. Weakened by her tri-partite strike, she finally fell under the hand of authority and was taken to the Morningside Asylum where she become the first ever case of forcible feeding in Scotland. The act had been in practice in England, but had been resisted by the Scottish Authorities for fear it was too brutal. These fears were not unfounded. Ethel contracted double pneumonia when food mistakenly entered her lungs during the ordeal. The public were appalled and Moorhead was soon released. She was left under the care of Dr Grace Cadell a fellow activist in the suffrage movement. Before long she was back on her feet, fighting fists at the ready to fight for the improvement of women’s rights. It is understood Moorhead moved to Paris in her later years to take up painting once more. She married writer Ernest Walsh and went on to out-live him, dying in 1955.
For further information you may wish to refer to... http://bit.ly/gD0c31 Information on a film reconstructing the Ethel Moorhead story. Film available for private viewings in the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. http://bit.ly/hV1ozK A cutting from the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch of 7 September 1012 http://bit.ly/fhuAtG More information on Ethel Moorhead from Dundee Women's Trail http://bit.ly/f7Gh3t More information on Ethel Moorhead from www.johndclare.net
Janie Allan A Socialist, social worker and strong Scottish Suffragette Born in Glasgow c.1868 was an individual who would grow to offer great strength to the fight for women’s welfare and rights. Janie Allan was daughter to the founder of the successful Allan Shipping Line, a wealthy family of Independent Labour Party members and committed socialists. This political upbringing inevitably helped pave the way for Janie’s dynamic and dedicated involvement in social work and later her active contribution to the Scottish Suffrage Movement. Allan was instrumental in founding the Glasgow and West Scotland Association for Women’s Suffrage and in 1903 became a representative for such on the Nation Union for Women’s Suffrage Societies’ (NUWSS) committee. By 1906 there was a marked rise in militant tactics to gain further attention and support for the cause. After hearing Helen Fraser speak, Janie’s attentions soon turned to the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), the organisation of suffragettes renowned for their efforts in increasing direct action. Though the two schools of thought often clashed Janie continue to subscribe to the non-violent suffragist efforts of the NUWSS and remained a committee member until 1909. Her allegiance to the militant WSPU, however, was markedly stronger. Drawing on her position of wealth Janie helped spread the message of the cause across Scotland by offering the use of her motor-car. This was especially called upon during the North Ayrshire campaign of 1911 where it was used to deliver prominent speakers to small towns and villages. A skillful and well practiced artist of rhetoric, she was held in regard as a key campaigner and delivered many a speech herself. Janie also donated funds to the WSPU and the Women’s Freedom League in order to aid the cause. In March 1912 her militant stance was set in stone when Janie joined with Ethel Moorhead and Fanny Parker in a window smashing raid in London. She was tried and sentenced to four months in Holloway Prison, London. There, she went on hunger strike and was forcibly fed. In protest to the gruesome practice Janie barricaded herself in her cell. It is said to have taken three officers and crowbars to regain access. Janie spoke following her week-long ordeal of forcible feeding to say whilst she had not resisted during the practice, the consequences still had a mass impact, damaging her usual strength of mind, body and character for many months. Whilst she was in prison, a petition against her imprisonment was signed by 10, 500 people. March of 1913 saw Janie stand before the Court of Session for refusal to pay super tax. Like many activists she withheld payments, contesting the use of the word ‘persons’ in statute. She argued if women were not considered ‘person’ enough to be entitled to the vote they were not considered ‘person’ enough to require taxation. Unfortunately the case was lost and Allan was fined. However her efforts were not in vain as her actions did bring further attention to the cause.
Allan once again called upon her skills of rhetoric, this time in written form, contributing a suffrage column to socialist journal Forward. Her bold militancy continued. In 1914 Emmeline Pankhurst was to address a meeting at St. Andrew’s Hall, Glasgow. Released under the Cat and Mouse Act she was facing re-arrest so plans were put in place to heighten suffragette security. When police stormed the hall Janie Allan fired blank shots from a revolver to divert attention from Pankhurst. A great battle between police and protesters ensued, with much anger at the manhandling of many of the women present by the attending officers. With much public support, Janie pressed for a public enquiry but made little progress. Her attentions turned towards preparations for the mass march to London in July 1914 where the suffragettes would sound their collective voice before the King. At the outbreak of war in 1914 all militant action in the name of women’s suffrage was suspended but this did not mean the end to Janie’s days of contribution. She went on to join the committee of the Scottish Council for Women’s Trades, helping those facing unemployment. She remained a committed socialist and feminist and actively sought the betterment of women’s welfare and status through various means until her death in 1968. Her efforts spanned two centuries during which she actively offered her support to both suffragists and suffragettes, giving her a somewhat unique position in the history of the Scottish Suffrage Movement.
For further information you may wish to refer to... http://bit.ly/dH5kNe More information on Janie Allan from Women's History Scotland Numerous documents, articles and letters, held by the National Library of Scotland, relating to Janie Allan: • • • • • • • • • • • •
http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-31 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-34-pg-3 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-34-pg-4 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-35 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-50 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-51 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-52 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-53 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-55-page-1 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-55-page-2 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-55-page-3 http://suffragettes.nls.uk/sources/source-56
Louisa Lumsden An Educationalist and Scottish Suffragist Born in Aberdeen in 1840, Lousia Innes Lumsden was the youngest of seven children. Her father, an advocate, she was from a wealthy background giving her great leverage to into the Scottish Suffrage Movement in her later life. Following her father’s death, when she was aged just 12, her family moved to Cheltenham. An applied and intelligent women, she was educated Cheltenham, London and Belgium. Determined to further her learning, she returned north of the border and studied in Edinburgh from 1868. Her dedication to education did not go unnoticed and she was one of the first women invited by Emily Davies, a prominent English suffragette, to sit the Cambridge admission examinations. She passed and went on to achieve an honours degree in Classics from Girton College in 1873. Her continued merit gained her an invitation to St Andrews to take charge of a new girls school called St Leonard’s. In her five years there as headmistress she ran a tight ship, placing great emphasis on the typically male-dominated subjects of mathematics and physical development. In fact, Louisa has been credited with introducing lacrosse to Scotland during this time. She also drew upon her own areas of expertise, passionately teaching the classics. She left St Andrews following stormy relations with a number of individuals, and returned to settle in her birthplace of Aberdeen in 1882. There she sat on two school boards, continuing her passion for encouraging better education for women. In 1895 she returned to St Andrews where she assumed the role of warden in a female hall of residence, although further clashes led to her resignation after another five year period. The Aberdeen Suffrage Association was established in 1908. Aberdeen was not home to many active suffrage campaigners though Louisa Lumsden's efforts in educating women made her a prime candidate for the head of the organisation. She was invited to become president and accepted, suggesting she would only assume the role providing it took little time away from her other activities. Soon, however, she found herself fully immersed in the cause with her focus lying with the education, rather than the emancipation of women. She was able to offer practical and financial assistance to the Suffrage cause by providing the use of her horse drawn cart for the campaign tours of Scotland. She was a staunch Scottish suffragist and chose not to condone the actions of her militant counterparts, the suffragettes. Instead of resorting to violence, Louisa chose to offer her voice to the cause. With a strong education behind her, she was a confident, powerful and original public speaker, addressing many a meeting throughout the length and breadth of Scotland. She addressed her largest audience while representing the Scottish constituent at the climax of the Suffrage pilgrimage to London in the summer of 1913. In the following year she was elected onto the executive committee for the Scottish federation for the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and moved from Aberdeen to Edinburgh to be closer to the centre of action.
Her efforts spanned two centuries and while her stance remained resolutely non-militant her efforts did not go unnoticed. Louisa Lumsden educated women for their own individual betterment and strove to teach the general public that a world of equal rights for women and men would ultimately be a better place for all.
For further information you may wish to refer to... http://bit.ly/evZGfk Women and the Vote: Suffrage in the Highlands - from the Workers' Education Association Scotland
Lady Frances Balflour A Scottish Suffragist Born on 22 February 1858 to the Duke and Duchess of Argyll was Lady Frances Campbell. The fifth daughter of 12 children, her childhood was spent between Inveraray Castle and Roseneath Castle. Her mother and grandmother had both been active in the anti-slavery movement and she was raised by a family of dedicated Whigs, surrounded by talk of liberal politics from a young age. Frances was to assume a somewhat unusual position in supporting the right of women to vote. Largely the Women’s Suffrage Movement was of no interest to those from the highest strata of society. In stark contrast to those at the other end of the social ladder, women who had access to great wealth already effectively had power and they did not see the need for the vote to extend such a privilege to all women. Whilst many simply turned their noses up at the cause, some actively campaigned against it. Frances, however, strongly greatly disagreed with the male monopoly in politics and actively sought to change it. Controversially, Frances was engaged to a man of Tory stock. In 1897 she and Eustance married and she become Lady Frances Balflour. Unfortunately the marriage was not a happy one. Following the birth of their five children her husband turned to alcoholism. He spent very little time at home and offered no support to her quest for women’s rights. Lady Balflour, however remained loyal both to her husband and to her political stance, creating a very independent life for herself. She was a member of the Women’s Liberal Unionist Association and it was through this organisation that she entered the Suffrage Movement in the late 1880s. The cause became a central focus in her life and she became an executive committee member in the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) from its establishment in 1897. She was active in arranging and attending marches and rallies, speaking and writing widely about the cause. Between 1910 and 1912 she was averaging around 3 speeches per week, with Inverness one of her many campaign destinations. Lady Frances called upon her connections and wealth when appropriate, attempting to gain support from MPs and other prominent political figures. In 1908, as a respected non-violent campaigner, she formed part of the suffragist deputation to Prime Minister Asquith in London. The high level of respect she warranted led to her appointment as one of only two females involved in the Royal Commission of Divorce and Matrimonial Causes from 1910-1912. Militancy within the Movement continued to escalate in the early 1900s, with many followers believing violent direct action was absolutely necessary to further the cause. Whilst she remained devoutly non-militant, Lady Balflour admired and respected the courage and efforts of those who chose the opposite tack. The outbreak of war, however, saw an end to all acts of suffragette militancy and saw an increase in non-violent approaches such as those practiced by the likes of Lady Balflour. She assumed a position on the London committee supporting the Scottish Women’s Hospitals efforts, established by fellow prominent Scottish suffragist, Elsie Inglis.
Though she opposed militant action on the war against sexism, Lady Balflour maintained that the First World War had a positive impact on bettering the position of women. She continued her work until her death in 1931. A devout non-militant activist from a position of wealth, she provided an unique insight and contribution to the Scottish Suffrage Movement.
For further information you may wish to refer to... http://bit.ly/g4GOi7 More information on Lady Balflour from education website, Spartacus http://bit.ly/evZGfk Women and the Vote: Suffrage in the Highlands - from the Workers' Education Association Scotland