Dr Maureen Wright, University of Chichester and Susan Munro, Chair, Elizabeth’s Group, Congleton, Cheshire, explored how the Elizabeth’s Group worked to mark the contribution made by Vicwardian suffragist and suffragette, Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy.
In this article, Susan Munro wrote of her recollections of a momentous day in 2018, which was to become the beginning of the Elizabeth’s Group. “On International Women’s Day 2018, a group of intrepid women, dressed as suffragettes, marched through Congleton in the wind and snow to commemorate 100 years of some women getting the vote.” The march was followed by a talk about the local “Suffragette”. This was the moment, Dr Munro first heard the name Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy, who had lived in the town for more than 54 years.
Susan Munro wrote: “Elizabeth, I discovered, had been ‘forgotten’ for several reasons and is missing from the suffragette history narrative, even though she joined Emmeline Pankhurst’s Women’s Social and Political Union from the outset and served on its Executive. Interestingly Emmeline referred to Elizabeth as the ‘grey matter in the brains of the women’s movement’ and Elizabeth was officially honoured with the title ‘Nestor’ or oldest and wisest.”
Read the full article on the Women’s History Network. (Published March 1, 2020)