Suffragettes revealed as early victims of image doctoring

Exhibition sheds light on state’s efforts to deal with militant women

THEY are two images that starkly illustrate the bitter physical struggle which took place between the suffragettes and the representatives of a state that would deny women the vote.

When the militant campaigner Evelyn Manesta was photographed by police at London’s Holloway Prison, a warder had to grip her arms behind her back to stop her struggling and hold her head in an upright position to face the camera.

But when this now rarely seen photograph was distributed, the presence of the warder was edited out, leaving the image of Manesta standing on her own.

In what was an early example of image manipulation, the forces of law and order simply made themselves invisible, possibly so as not to detract from the effectiveness of the picture in identifying the suffragette.

The two contrasting photographs, above right, are part of a new exhibition of contemporary documents and images at the National Archives in Kew, showing the lengths the suffragettes were willing to go to and the response from the state.

Manesta had been arrested in April 1913, after smashing the glass of 13 of the most valuable paintings on display at Manchester Art Gallery.

Police photographed her in order to distribute her image to other museums, such as the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection, so that staff could spot her in case she tried to stage another attack.

Manesta was not going to allow herself to be photo- graphed without a struggle though, forcing one of the warders to hold her in place.

The idea of editing out the presence of the warder came from the photographer.

In his report, the prison governor stated: “The photographer informs me that he can easily print out the matron’s arms round Manesta’s neck, should it be considered desirable to do so. They were required in order to prevent her holding her head down.”

Kathryn Fox, modern domestic records specialist at the National Archives, said: “This is one of the photographs that really shows the interaction between the suffragettes and the state; it is the sharp end of the struggle for the vote.

“Manesta was obviously struggling and resisting the attempt to photograph her and she had to be physically restrained. But when it came to distributing the photograph, they edited out the arms of the officer restraining her.”

Some of the earliest use of surveillance photos and fingerprinting by police was developed in response to the growing militancy of the suffragettes’ campaign.

“The authorities began to utilise new technologies, such as photography, to record and disseminate information,” said Ms Fox.

“Some of these strategies included using new lenses to take surveillance photographs of suffragette prisoners, and editing photos to remove arms that were restraining the women.”

The exhibition – which marks the centenary of some women being allowed to vote for the first time – also includes documents seized in raids on suffragette headquarters, statements made to police and prison reports.

Suffragettes vs the State runs at the National Archives in Kew, south-west London until Oct 26. Entry is free.