Exploits of men and women who supported suffrage movement is remembered
fellow librarians has been working on the display for the last six months.
The Glasgow Association for Women’s Suffrage was mentioned in Post Office Directories as early as 1884.
Its first chairperson was James Orr, a solicitor who was also president of the Glasgow Liberal Club.
They met on a regular basis until the Glasgow and West of Scotland Association for Women’s Suffrage (GWSAWS) was formed in 1902.
Members included Jessie Turnbull Thomson, or Mrs Greig, as she was referred to in the minutes, who was also a member of the Glasgow Council for Women’s Trades, which campaigned for better working conditions
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suffragettes travelled to London to take part in demonstrations and window smashing raids.
Following arrest and imprisonment, many went on hunger strike in support for their demand for political status.
Their subsequent force feeding provoked public outcry.
On March 9, 1914, one of the strongest voices in the UK suffrage movement, Emmeline Pankhurst, came to St Andrew’s Hall in Glasgow to address a large meeting of the Women’s Social and Political Union, the more militant suffragette organisation she helped to found in 1903.
Claire explains: “She knew she was subject to re-arrest under the Cat and Mouse Act, which was legislation brought in to allow suffragettes who had been hungerstriking to leave prison only for as long as it took to build themselves back up to strength again.
“They would then have to return to see out the rest of their sentence.
“During those times, women were not allowed to campaign, so Emmeline was taking a huge risk.
“She was smuggled into the hall inside a laundry basket and appeared on stage before the police rushed in.
“Rioting followed, the police drew batons and several suffragette supporters, including Mrs Pankhurst, were hurt and