it is unclear what happened to the archive of the Manchester Men's League for Women's Suffrage following its dissolution in 1918. It seems likely that it was deposited in or around 1923 when other women's suffrage archives came to the Library but there are no records of its existence until 1975.
On 3rd June 1908 a group of some 50 or 60 men and women met at the Portland Cafe, Portland Street, Manchester to hear Professor Samuel Alexander (1859-1938), Professor of Philosophy in the University of Manchester, speak about the work of the London Men's League for Women's Suffrage. It was decided to form a Manchester branch and its first formal meeting was held on 9th July in the same year. It was to remain affiliated to the head branch until 1911 after which it was to be independent until its dissolution in 1918. Its aim was to promote the enfranchisement of women on the same terms as the enfranchisement of men.
Throughout the 10 years of its existence its Presidents were:
Canon Edward Lee Hicks (1843-1919), Lord Bishop of Lincoln;
Professor Samuel Alexander; Mr A.M. Langden, KC; and Dr H.
Thiselton Mark. The bulk of its work, however, was probably
carried out by its successive Chairmen and Secretaries,
particularly prominent amongst whom was John Beanland who wrote
the pamphlet
The League cooperated with other Suffrage Societies; its own activities involved public meetings of a propagandist nature, correspondence in the press, interviewing candidates in local and parliamentary elections, sending resolutions to the government and the dissemination of suffrage literature. In common with other suffrage societies, propagandist activity was suspended during the war, a time when conscription caused the League severe personnel problems.
After the war, the Representation of the People Act, which received royal assent on 6 February 1918, was the partial realisation of the League's aims, enfranchising some 8,000,000 new voters, around 6,000,000 of whom were women. The Act gave the vote to women, over the age of 30, who were householders, the wives of householders, occupiers of property of an annual value of £5 or who had graduated, or passed the qualifications for graduation, at a British University.
Many women were still without the vote but the League felt that sufficient women were now in possession of the vote to fight effectively for full enfranchisement on equal terms with men and, in view of the personnel difficulties which conscription had caused the League, the decision was taken to disband in April 1918. Individual members of the League were encouraged to join other suffrage societies.
A more detailed history of the League is given in MML/1/2/3 written in 1918 by the then Chairman of the League, Mr D.M. Humphreys.
The archive relates primarily to the campaign for the enfranchisement of women. Information can be found not only on the League's activities but also on the activities of other women's suffrage groups on a local, national and occasionally international level. As part of this, material is included on the contemporary position of women and the arguments against their enfranchisement.
There is some information on life during the war, with the emphasis on emergency work done by women. The material occasionally touches on other campaigns of the early twentieth century; the campaigns against venereal disease and "white slavery" or the procurement of girls for prostitution; the campaign for change in the divorce laws; and the temperance campaign.
the archive contains 5 distinct classes of material and its
arrangement reflects this. The classes are:
the Library holds the papers of Samuel Alexander, one time President of the Manchester Men's League, and there are some items in this collection which touch on Alexander's support of and role in the women's suffrage movement.
The Library also holds archives of the International Woman
Suffrage Alliance, the National Union of Women's Suffrage
Societies and the Parliamentary Committee for Women's Suffrage.
See also the correspondence of C.P. Scott with Emmeline and
Christabel Pankhurst within the
In compiling this list the archivist found useful: Constance
Rover
Only 2 Minute Books are extant, the first for the period 1912-1915, the second for the period 1915-1918. That there was originally a Minute Book for the period 1908-1912 is indicated in the sub-title of the 1912-1915 volume, `The Minute Book Continued'. Minutes are primarily of the Executive Committee of the League but Annual General Meetings and occasional Joint Protest Meetings with other suffrage organisations are also minuted. Minutes are manuscript except for a few typescript pages in MML/1/1/1. The volumes include some attached propagandist leaflets, letters, motions and news cuttings and there are a number of loose inserts.
Advertising the women's suffrage campaign and beginning "Englishmen! Do you realise..."
From a Joint Campaign Meeting attended by Mr Howard Cheetham.
Of the Manchester Men's League for Women's Suffrage 1913- 1914. Middle sheet only.
Of a Joint Campaign Committee Meeting.
Of a Joint Demonstration Sub-Committee Meeting. First sheet only.
Letter from John Beanland, Honorary Secretary of the League,
to the
To the
Of John Beanland, Secretary of the League 1912-1917.
Of 10 years of the League's work, written by the Chairman Mr D.M. Humphreys. Manuscript.
With individual supporters and opponents of the cause; local and national suffrage societies; organisations, such as Churches and Trade Unions, which might lend their support; and the press.
A major topic of correspondence is the action of militant suffragettes. The file also includes correspondence relating to war relief work, women's emergency labour in industry and Separation Allowances for dependents of unmarried soldiers.
Includes some correspondence relating to the disbanding of the League.
Annual reports, flyers and an enrolment form.
"Mr Asquith says".
"Macauley on Haste in Legislation".
"The Declaration of Rights".
Journals, news cuttings, annual reports and flyers.
The main article relates to the sale of girls in Burma.
From
Of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, Manchester and District Federation.
Advertising the Church League for Women's Suffrage, Manchester Branch, Service of Thanksgiving at Manchester Cathedral to be held on 23 Feb [1918]. Endorsed with a rough copy of a [Manchester Men's League for Women's Suffrage] Statement of Accounts 1 Apr 1917-Feb 1918.
With the exception of a few flyers and manuscript notes, the collection consists entirely of news cuttings; these are drawn mostly from the local and national press with a few cuttings from journals of the women's suffrage movement.
the League filed news cuttings in a shoe box under 51 alphabetical subject headings. 49 of these headings are represented below; the 2 additional subjects were `Parallel' and `Parliament' but no clippings were filed under these headings. Within each subject file the dated news cuttings have been placed in chronological order. Cuttings which give day and month dates, but not year, and totally undated cuttings, of which there are a great many, have been placed at the end of each file, although sometimes they do, or may, relate to events in the dated cuttings.
An address by Churchill on the Irish question (/1) and addresses on women's suffrage issues by: Lord Robert Cecil (/2); Lloyd George (/3, /10, /15, /16); Millicent Garrett Fawcett (/4, /6, /7, /8); Miss Cox (/5); Sir John Simon (/9, /11, /12); Mrs Philip Snowdon (/9); Asquith (/14); and Mr Acland.
Articles on: the Franchise and Registration Bill (/1, /7, /8); "an italicised clause in a government bill" (/2); Sir Edward Grey and a government bill (/3); the need for a government bill (/4); Selborne's Women's Enfranchisement Bill (Lords) (/5, /6); the Service Franchise Bill (/9, /10); Mr Masterman's opposition to bills for women's enfranchisement (/11); and the proposed basis of women's enfranchisement under the Manhood Suffrage Bill (/12, /13).
An account of the Conciliation Committee's request for a public inquiry into the behaviour of police towards suffragettes on Black Friday [18 Nov 1910] and the days immediately following it; an undated list of arrests; and an unidentified photograph of police and a suffragette.
A report of Lloyd George's reception of delegations from the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies and the Women's Freedom League; and an account of `Mr Asquith's Record' with regard to women's rights.
Articles relating to: the passage of the Prisoners' Temporary Discharge for Ill Health [Cat and Mouse] Bill (/1-4); opposition to the operation of the Act (/5, /7, /12-15); and Emmeline Pankhurst's treatment under the Act (/6, /8-11).
A letter from women writers arguing that the "present attitude of rebellion, anarchy and defiance" is due to the "shuffling insincerity" of the Government.
Articles relating to the nature of chivalry and its inadequacy as a "substitute for the protection of a vote".
Articles concerning statements made by various representatives of the Anglican and Free Churches arguing for and against (mostly for) women's suffrage and for and against (mostly against) the militant methods of some of the campaigners. /17 gives a Catholic view from New Zealand. /22 and /23 are flyers for the Free Church League for Women's Suffrage in Manchester.
Articles on: Lady Betty Balfour's opinions on militancy and the chances of the Unionists giving women the vote; and whether women's suffrage is a party issue.
A letter from Emily Davison to the
Article on the Female Suffrage Debate in the
Reports concerning deputations made to Asquith and Lloyd George by: Edinburgh and Glasgow bailies and town councillors (/2); the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (/3, /5, /7, /8); the Women's Freedom League (/4); the East London Federation of Suffragists (/6); and a letter concerning the female age of consent and the fact that women, with no vote, cannot change it in their better interests (/1).
Articles on the inequality of women's position with regard to: pay and employment (/1, /4, /5); government (/2); separation and divorce law (/3); and conventional ideals of beauty (/6). Also includes a suffrage verse, `The Girls, The Boys and The Cakes: A Fable' (/7).
Articles placing the blame for women's violent actions on the government's "trickery and bad faith".
An article detailing a project for "mating as nearly perfect a couple as can be obtained, and watching the eugenic sequel".
Articles on: militancy and yielding to force; Ireland's historic women warriors and the difference between being exempted from military service and being prevented from doing it; and a suffragette demonstration outside a meeting in Ladybank, East Fife which was being addressed by Asquith following his acceptance of the office of Secretary of State for War, and from which women were excluded.
/1-2 is a letter from the Women's Social and Political Union
to John Beanland thanking him for a letter which appeared in the
Printed sheets and manuscript notes relating to the hire of halls for meetings.
A history of the Women's Social and Political Union in the
Reports of: Emmeline Pankhurst's arrest in Glasgow; the reading of the Riot Act at Crosby, Lincs; and attacks on suffragettes.
Articles: reporting attacks on suffragettes in Yeovil [Som] by students of Bristol University and in Wrexham [Denbighshire] and Llanystumdwy [Caernarfonshire]; and "the wanton incitement to violence offered by responsible Cabinet Ministers to women".
A report of Indian support for women's suffrage.
Article on the Irish vote against women's suffrage.
Article on the benefits of women jurors.
Article highlighting the harsh treatment offered to the militant suffragette Rona Robinson M.Sc. of the Victoria University, Manchester, as opposed to the more lenient treatment of militants of rank and social standing such as Lady Constance Lytton.
Articles on: the National Labour Press suspension of the
printing of
Articles on: the admission of women to the legal profession (/1); the exclusion of women from court (/2); the "respect" and "decorum" shown to women by withholding their right to vote (/3); women's refusal to pay income tax on the grounds that taxation should be accompanied by representation (/4); the right of the mother to be legally considered a "parent" of her own child (/5- 6); the restrictions on the admission of women to the British Museum (/7); an attack on suffragettes at Streatham Common [London] (/8); and legislation passed in America since women were admitted to the franchise (/9-10).
Articles on: the Liberal Women's Suffrage Union for
Lancashire and Cheshire (/1, /6-7); the Liberal Men's Association
for Women's Suffrage (/2-3); Sir John Simon, Attorney General,
speaking in Manchester (/4); Oxford Liberals' objections to the
selection of an anti-suffragist Liberal candidate (/5); exclusion
of "Liberal women-workers" from a meeting in Oldham [Lancs] (/8,
/12); militancy and "the delusion...that there are moral
qualities admirable in a man which in a woman are undesirable or
unnecessary" (/9); Altrincham [Chesh] Liberals and women's
suffrage (/10, /13-14); and the National Liberal Club's response
to militancy seen as "
Articles on: the equality of women with men in ancient Egypt; the termination of the employment of women on marriage; and the need for reform of divorce legislation.
Reports of violence at suffrage meetings and the actions of the police in dispersing such meetings in London and Nottingham.
Articles on: objections to the actions and consequences of militant suffragism (/1, /4, /15, /19); government action against militant suffragism (/2-3, /18); attacks on militant suffragettes (/5); justification for militant action (/6-8, /13, /23-25); activities of militant suffragettes and their motives (/9, /12, /20-21); militant suffragism as "mental derangement" (/10, /22); gun-running in Ulster (/11); `Militancy for Non-Militants' (/14); divisions in "militant suffrage ranks" (/16); and the origins of militancy (/17).
L. Kay Shuttleworth quoted on objections to the
enfranchisement of women; and a `Friendly Letter' of persuasion
to "All Anti-Suffragists" written by Rev. Edwin A. Mould for
A review of
Articles on: the Plural Voting Bill (/1, /8); Asquith's unfulfilled pledge, of 17 Nov 1911, for an Electoral Reform Bill "drafted in such a manner as to admit of women's suffrage being introduced into it by way of amendments" (/2, /9); the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies deputation to J. Ramsay Macdonald (/3); the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies' deputation to Asquith (/4-5); Millicent Garrett Fawcett speaking on truce and amnesty (/6); and the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Unions Congress deputation to Asquith (/7).
Articles on the courageous actions of a Miss Kate Dunn of Sale [Chesh] and a Mrs Margaret Hayes of Liverpool in aiding the police.
Articles on: new suffragette policy in the event of a general election; an address on Liberals and women's suffrage by Mrs Swanwick; federal government and women's suffrage.
Account of Lady Constance Lytton's prison treatment during a sentence for taking part in a demonstration outside Walton Gaol [Liverpool].
Articles on: the prosecution of members of the Women's Social and Political Union (/1-5); the "coarse and clumsy" arrest of a Miss Wallwork (/6, /8-9); imprisonment of non-militant members of the Women's Social and Political Union (/7); inadequate sentences passed against men for offenses against women (/10); sentences passed against women following disturbances at the London Pavilion (/11); suffragette disturbances during trials (/12-13); and law-breaking with regard to "Irish Home Rule, the relations of labour to capital and women's suffrage" (/14).
Letters to the
Propagandist flyers, giving the reasons for and against women's suffrage, produced by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (/1-3), the National League for Opposing Woman Suffrage (/15) and the Suffrage First Committee (/16); and articles relating to: the position of widows with children (/4, /6, /11); infant mortality (/5, /14); Cavendish Association meetings to encourage members to "bear witness to the Christian spirit as the motive force and object of all service" (/7); reasons why women want the vote (/8, /13); birth control and population explosion (/9, /12); and the "better age for which we are waiting" (/10).
Articles written in response to Shaw's observations on women's suffrage and militant methods.
Articles emphasising how socialism, without suffrage and equality, is worthless to women.
Article concerning the refusal of Mrs Mary Wyan, released from Holloway Gaol [London] under the Cat and Mouse Act, to enter a nursing home until her full release was granted.
Articles on: a forthcoming referendum for full suffrage for women in Massachusetts, U.S.A.; reclamation of women from prostitution; a Directory of Suffrage Societies; and a suffrage verse, `Unconquerable' by Almon Hensley.
Articles on: the previous failures of the National Union of Teachers to pass a resolution in favour of the enfranchisement of women and the forthcoming annual conference at Lowestoft [Suff]; and whether a married woman with young children can or should fulfil "her duty to the education committee". Also includes campaign leaflets produced by the Women Teachers' Franchise Union.
Articles relating to brutal attacks on suffragettes at Llanystumdwy [Caernarfonshire] and Wrexham [Denbighshire] and the position of Lloyd George with regard to these events.
Articles on: the Women's Sick and Wounded Convoy Corps; work in Red Cross hospitals and on Distress Committees; women's war work and their right to the vote; women's work in the retail trade to release men for service with the forces; women munition workers; and the social welfare of recruits.
Articles on: the medical and moral inaccuracy of the myth that "it is beneficial, or at least necessary, for a young man to sow his wild oats" (/1-2, /5); missing girls (/3); government complicity in "white slavery" and the existence of "houses set aside for immoral purposes" of the Army and Navy (/4); assaults on girls (/6, /8-10); the role of women's suffrage in putting an end to "white slavery" (/7, /11); and a Mission of Hope leaflet, `To Raise Up Them That Fall' (/12).
Articles on: poor pay and conditions for women workers (/1,
/5, /7-8, /16); women's involvement in local and central
government (/2, /14, /18, /22, /24);