At Last! event banner image 1920x830-min

Events

At Last! Votes for Women

Hosted by the LSE Library

LSE Library Gallery, United Kingdom

At Last! Votes for Women features archive items and objects from the Women's Library collection – including three banners, sashes, badges and much more – to show the campaign methods of the three main groups for women’s suffrage, the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) and the Women’s Freedom League (WFL).

It concentrates on the last (and often bitter) years of the long campaign of the struggle for women's right to vote from 1908 - 1914, with the inclusion of prison diaries and leaflets detailing tactics, such as 'rushing' the House of Commons. 

A Votes for Women banner created by the Women's Freedom League

The exhibition takes the narrative of the fight to vote through to the final years of the First World War when the right for all men and some women was passed in Parliament. With the unveiling of a statue of Millicent Garrett Fawcett - the first woman to have a sculpture in Parliament Square - the archives on display give an insight into her tactful diplomacy and drive to get at least a limited franchise in 1918. It features correspondence between Garrett Fawcett and Emmeline Pankhurst as well as Herbert Asquith and Lloyd George and displays the muted celebration of the vote, held when war was still in progress.

The Director of LSE Library, Nicola Wright welcomes the opportunity that the exhibition offers,

Not only is 2018 an important anniversary – it is also a joyous one with an enormous range of activities marking this significant moment. I am delighted that LSE Library is able to share the wonderful collections of the Women’s Library and help tell the story of how the vote was won.

This is one of a series of ongoing exhibitions hosted by LSE Library which utilise its world class special collections in order to provide food for thought for all. 

The exhibition is held in the library Gallery by the main entrance to the building. It is small enough to explore in a lunchtime, but you can also arrange longer visits for groups that include a tour with the exhibition curator - just get in touch to arrange.

Follow Gillian Murphy, the exhibition curator, on Twitter to find out more about LSE Library collections

Stay up to date with LSE Library on Twitter.

Twitter and Facebook

You can get immediate notification on the availability of an event podcast by following LSE public lectures and events on Twitter, which will also inform you about the posting of transcripts and videos, the announcement of new events and other important event updates. Event updates and other information about what's happening at LSE can be found on the LSE's Facebook page.

Accessibility

If you are planning to attend this event and would like details on how to get here and what time to arrive, as well as on accessibility and special requirements, please refer to LSE Events FAQ. LSE aims to ensure that people have equal access to these public events, but please contact the event's organiser as far as possible in advance if you have any access requirements, so that arrangements, where possible, can be made. If the event is ticketed, please ensure you get in touch in advance of the ticket release date. Access Guides to all our venues can be viewed online.

From time to time there are changes to event details so we strongly recommend checking back on this listing prior to visiting the exhibition.

Whilst we are hosting this listing, LSE Events does not take responsibility for the running and administration of this event. While we take responsible measures to ensure that accurate information is given here (for instance by checking the room has been booked) this event is ultimately the responsibility of the organisation presenting the event.