Women in The National Archives

The original documents cover the campaign for women's suffrage in Britain, 1903-1928 and the granting of women's suffrage in colonial territories, 1930-1962.


Title Date Department/Office Region
13 suffragettes convicted on 29 August 1908: Prison treatment 1908 Home Office Europe, North America
Amnesty of August 1914:index of women suffragists arrested 1906-1914 (1914-1935) 1914-1935 Home Office Europe
Arrest and imprisonment of Bayard Simmons, Elizabeth Davis, Lily Johnstone, Bessie Armstrong, Sarah Morrisey and Auguste McDougall, following a suffragette protest on 14 December 1906 outside the House of Commons. Includes newspaper extracts describing the incident. Also includes details of a later incident on 17 December 1906 when eleven suffragettes were arrested following a protest in the Central Lobby of the House of Commons. 1906 Home Office Europe
Arrest and imprisonment of nine suffragettes in Winson Green Prison, Birmingham, following violent protests and incidents linked to a visit by the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith, to Birmingham on 17 September 1909. Those imprisoned, with sentences ranging from one to three months, were Laura Ainsworth, Patricia Woodlock, Ellen Barwell, Hilda Evelyn Burkett, Leslie Hall, Mabel Capper, Mary Edwards, Mary Leigh and Charlotte Marsh. The file contains police reports, newspaper reports and a large number of medical reports on the health of the prisoners, several of whom went on hunger strike and were forcibly fed. It also contains letters from the prisoners' relatives, medical opinions from a number of doctors on force-feeding, including a large typescript book of medical evidence, and a number of parliamentary questions from the Labour MP Keir Hardie on the prisoners' welfare. There are signed letters from Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, and various petitions, including two from Charlotte Marsh. The release of Laura Ainsworth on 5 October 1909 is noted. 1909 Home Office Europe
Attempted Suffragette deputation to the King (1914) 1914 Home Office Europe
Clara Giveen, suffragette, sentenced to three years penal servitude for setting fire to the grandstand at Hurst Park. Refused food in prison, released on medical grounds and escaped police observation 1912-1914 Home Office Europe
Complaints by Suffragettes of the conditions under which they were conveyed to prison in police vans (1913-1922) 1913-1923 Home Office Europe
Complaints of treatment in prison by suffragettes 1906-1907 Home Office Europe
Criminal: Suffragettes treatment in prison, including the Pankhursts, following convictions in connection with the 'rush' on the House of Commons 1908 Home Office Europe
Dawson, A. Women's Freedom League : Gonne, C M: Petitions to HM concerning Women's Suffrage 1906-1909 Home Office Europe
Disturbance and obstruction of police by suffragettes meeting at Limehouse 1909 Home Office Europe
Equal Franchise Committee, 1927-1928 (part 1) 1927-1928 Home Office Europe, South America, North America, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific,
Equal Franchise Committee, 1927-1928 (part 2) 1927-1928 Home Office Europe
Forcible Feeding Committee (Medical) Deputation (1914) 1914 Home Office Europe
Images from The National Archives Exhibition 1904-1914 Europe
Imprisonment of eight suffragettes in Winson Green Prison in Birmingham following violent protests and incidents linked to a visit by the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith, to Birmingham on 17 September 1909. Those imprisoned, with sentences ranging from one to three months, were Patricia Woodlock, Ellen Barwell, Hilda Evelyn Burkett, Leslie Hall, Mabel Capper, Mary Edwards, Mary Leigh and Charlotte Marsh.The file contains a number of medical reports on the health of the prisoners, several of whom went on hunger strike and were forcibly fed. It also contains medical opinions on force-feeding and letters from the prisoners' relatives enquiring about their welfare. A recommendation for the release of Mary Leigh on health grounds was approved and took place on 30 October 1909. There are also details of Charlotte Marsh's early release on 9 December 1909 on account of her father's illness, and of attempts by solicitors representing Mary Leigh to take legal action against the Home Secretary. The file records the official appreciation of the Home Secretary to the Governor and prison staff for their handling of the prisoners. 1909 Home Office Europe
Imprisonment of Mrs Pankhurst and Mr and Mrs Pethick-Lawrence (1912-1913) 1912-1913 Home Office Europe
Imprisonment of Theresa Billington for alleged assault of a police officer during a suffragette demonstration in Cavendish Square on 21 June 1906 outside the house of the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith. Includes newspaper extracts, police reports and various resolutions in support of Miss Billington.Also includes details of the imprisonment of Annie Kenney, Adelaide Knight and Jane Sparborough for their involvement in the same demonstration. A resolution from the Women's Social and Political Union in support of the three women contains a handwritten note from Sylvia Pankhurst, and another resolution is signed by Christabel Pankhurst. The file also contains the authorisation for their release from prison on 13 August 1906. 1906 Home Office Europe
Miss Emily Wilding Davison (suffragette) killed when she threw herself under the King's horse at the Derby in 1913 1912-1914 Home Office Europe
Prisoners (temporary discharge for ill-health) Bill 1913 Cabinet Office Europe
Prorogation Speech 1910 Cabinet Office Europe
Rachel Peace and Jane Short, suffragettes, forcibly fed 1912-1914 Home Office Europe
Re-opening of galleries closed against suffragists 1913-1914 Wallace Collection Europe
Six Point Group. Extension of the franchise to women in the colonies, 1939 1939 Colonial Office Caribbean
Status of native women in Colonies and Protectorates, 1930 1930 Dominions Office Africa, Asia Pacific, South Asia
Status of native women in Colonies and Protectorates, 1930-1935 1930-1935 Dominions Office Africa, Europe
Suffrage arrangements in Colonial Territories, 1954-1955 1954-1955 Colonial Office Europe, South America, North America, South Asia, Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean
Suffrage arrangements in Colonial Territories, 1955 1955 Colonial Office Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Asia Pacific, South America, North America
Suffrage arrangements in Colonial Territories, 1955-1957 1955-1957 Colonial Office South America, North America, East Asia, Africa, Europe, Asia Pacific, Caribbean
Suffrage arrangements in Colonial Territories, 1960-1962 1960-1962 Colonial Office Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean, Middle East, North America, South America
Suffrage Arrangements on Colonial Territories: Voting Qualifications, 1957-1959 1957-1959 Colonial Office Europe, Africa, South America, North America, Asia Pacific, East Asia, South Asia, Caribbean, Middle East
Suffrage Disorders 1913 Cabinet Office Europe
Suffragette activities and meetings. Reports 1912-1913 1912-1913 Home Office Europe
Suffragette demonstrations: police procedure (1911) 1911 Metropolitan Police Office Europe
Suffragette disturbance at Westminster 1910-1911 Home Office Europe
Suffragette disturbances: augmentation of Special Branch (1909) 1909 Metropolitan Police Office Europe
The Suffragette Movement: disturbances and convictions (1906-1907) 1906-1907 Metropolitan Police Office Europe
Suffragette prisoners in Holloway 1909 Cabinet Office Europe
Suffragettes 16 December 1909 1909 Cabinet Office Europe
"Suffragettes' demonstration, imprisonment, and forcible feeding" 1912 Home Office Europe
The Suffragettes Disturbance 1910-1911 Home Office Europe
Suffragettes: complaints against police (1911) 1911 Metropolitan Police Office Europe
Suffragettes: meetings at 'London Pavilion Music Hall' (1913) 1913 Metropolitan Police Office Europe
Suffragettes: treatment in Bristol Prison 1909 Home Office Europe
Suffragist Disturbances 1911-1913 Home Office Europe
Suffragists: Descriptions and photographs 1914 Wallace Collection Europe
Suffragists: Outrage at National gallery 1914 Wallace Collection Europe
Treatment of suffrage prisoners 1913 Cabinet Office Europe
Withdrawal of Franchise Bill January 1913 1913 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Enfranchisement Bill, 1922. Representations of the People's Bills, 1922-1924 1922-1924 Home Office Europe, North America, Asia Pacific,
Women's Suffrage 8 June 1910 1910 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Suffrage Amendments to the Franchise Bill 1913 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Suffrage Bill 15 June 1910 1910 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Suffrage Bill 17 May 1911 1911 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Suffrage Bill 23 June 1910 1910 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Suffrage Bill 30 April 1913 1913 Cabinet Office Europe
Women's Suffrage Bill 4 May 1911 1911 Cabinet Office Europe
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