For #internationalteaday I give you a very rare #suffrageobject - a Scottish Women’s Social and Political Union teaset. ‘Angel of Freedom’ plus thistles in purple, white and green. So simple, so charming -such a clever a piece of propaganda

John Stuart Mill, influential philosopher and Liberal MP for Westminster, 1865-1868 was born 220 years ago today. In 1866, Mill presented the first mass petition to the Commons in favour of women's suffrage, as @kathrynrix.bsky.social explores below.

Born #OTD 1806, #OTD 1867 John Stuart Mill, philosopher & MP, moved an amendment to the Reform Bill to include women - on the same terms as men. A statue is most certainly a #suffrageobject - as you’ll see in my forthcoming The British Women’s Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects - see link in bio

An excellent scheme

SUFFRAGE OBJECTS: ‘VOTES FOR WOMEN’ HOOKS & EYES In over 40 years spent hunting for and selling objects related to the women's suffrage campaign, this little box is the only example I have ever found of 'Votes for Women' Hooks and Eyes. It is a perfect 'suffrage object', hitching to a political…

Loved this film when I saw it in a real cinema on first release. One scene really did bring a tear to this hard-bitten eye. And that was even before I knew anything of the author. Highly recommended

SUFFRAGE OBJECT: A PALMIST’S BUSINESS CARD: WHO WAS ‘LA YENDA’? This card was given to Kate Frye at the Women's Freedom League 'Green, White and Gold Fair', held in Caxton Hall, London, in April 1909. She then preserved it within the pages of her fabulous diary (now held by by Royal Holloway…

SUFFRAGE OBJECT: ANNIE KENNEY’S BRACELET Many years ago I was briefly the owner of a most remarkable suffrage object, a tangible record of a very real friendship. This 9- ct gold bracelet, conventionally pretty in its outer appearance, is within engraved with a revealing message. Inside, one arc…

Died #OnThisDay 1873 John Stuart Mill. While he was Liberal MP for Westminster, Mill put forward an amendment to add women's suffrage to the 1867 Reform Act - more on that debate here: victoriancommons.wordpress.com/2017/05/19/t...

Women! You don't have to make your mark on the House of Commons today by any nefarious means - just cast your vote. But look at the lengths to which these dastardly suffragettes were prepared to go ... womanandhersphere.com/2026/05/07/s...

New blog about The Women's Library exhibition by guest curators. blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsehistory/2...

How @camunicampop.bsky.social researchers are turning static snapshots of Victorian Britain into dynamic life histories. The team are linking over 200 million census records, revealing how people moved, worked and lived in ways never before possible. 🔎 Read on 👉 www.hist.cam.ac.uk/news/tracing...

How suffragettes from the WSPU celebrated May Day! part 2 @lselibrary.bsky.social suffragette May 8th 1914 82 has photos showing the procession. It Increased the sales of the paper successful marketing ! #MayDay @lsegender.bsky.social @scotsuffragette.bsky.social @womenshistnet.bsky.social

A scene from a 1913 film, ‘The Suffragette’. To read about its rediscovery (albeit not in moving form) see the latest post on my website…via link in bio. #suffrageobjects #suffragettes #silentfilm

I'm on BBC Radio 4 this afternoon talking to Coco Khan and Matthew Parris about the jujitsuffragette Edith Garrud! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

This pretty bag belonged to a suffragette - see womanandhersphere.com/2026/04/25/s.... It's just one of the many suffrage objects that have passed through my hands - & I include a similar bag as Object 29 in my forthcoming book 'The British Women's Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects' (see link in bio)

Why, oh why have the makers of this programme added a background hum of some random musical sound. It‘s relentless. I’ve given up on it. I suppose the intention was to be soothing -but it irritated me as much as a chalky squeak on a blackboard #grumpylistener www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Thanks to @mpsheritage.bsky.social I think I may have identified an original Sylvia Pankhurst artwork. Altho' for licensing agreement the pic below isn't the original - but to unravel the mystery read on... womanandhersphere.com/2026/04/17/s...

This lovely painting is among those in the current Seurat exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery. I could feel the breeze coming off the sea. mba.tournai.be/collection/g...

If you're in need of historical research (in archives or more generally), indexing, editing or copyediting, I have some capacity for freelance work over the coming months. Do take a look at my website and be in touch - I'm happy to chat about how I might be able to help. helenglew.com

'The Guardian' view on the Women's Library at 100: a cause of celebration but not complacency www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Such an interesting article. Packed with intriguing details.

And what I find amazing is how little mention is made of this situation. ‘Cos, of course, if available as ebooks, books are only stocked in that form, & ebooks are inaccessible. Catch-22. So it’s impossible to access academic works pub in last decade. The ebook policy is hopeless. We need print

This is, I think, a link to a number of free eprints of my WHR Viewpoint discussing my 4 decades as a bookseller, an occupation that has brought with it the opportunity to research and write. If you're interested, feel free... www.tandfonline.com/eprint/NJZYM...

No surprise here. Alas

Seconded.

This is a potential hostage to fortune, given that I don't yet know what the guests thought of it, but I'm hugely thrilled to say that in tomorrow's episode of 'A Good Read' (BBC Radio4 at 3pm), Harriett Gilbert 's book choice is my novel, 'Small Bomb at Dimperley'.

The British Women's Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects: a material history - FORTHCOMING IN JULY womanandhersphere.com/2026/02/09/t...

100th anniversary of the Women's Library @lselibrary.bsky.social the Women's Library was created in 1926 find out more in this insta reel www.instagram.com/p/DTxRuk6DTLU/ @lsegender.bsky.social @womenshistnet.bsky.social @womenslibrary.bsky.social @scotsuffragette.bsky.social 1 d

Very welcome annoucement for the sector. Recognises the economic impact of cultural venues in our towns and cities, but also our work to reach everyone in communities, inspire young people and improve lives. www.gov.uk/government/n... @artscouncilengland.bsky.social

Wonderful to see #badges feature in @womanssphere.bsky.social forthcoming book British Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects, including for Ireland. #WomensLibrary 💯 @fotwl.bsky.social

@womanssphere.bsky.social is now speaking about her forthcoming book on the British Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects at @fotwl.bsky.social conference today. 49 of the 100 objects come from @lselibrary.bsky.social #WomensLibrary.

Very insightful paper by @carolinederry.bsky.social here at @fotwl.bsky.social event to celebrate 💯 of @lselibrary.bsky.social #WomensLibrary on legal campaigns & debates around the age of consent & equal moral standard. Intersections with class, gender, age & sexuality highlighted are fascinating.

My book about the Actresses’ Franchise League is now £15 in the MUP sale! All good stuff about interactive and innovative suffrage theatre from suffrajitsu to plays to Holloway prison cell installations.(FYI you add it to basket to get the discount) manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526114808/

I'll be telling how the treasures of the Women's Library collections have provided 50 of the objects I discuss in my forthcoming book, 'The British Women's Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects: a material history', forthcoming from Bloomsbury in July (£24.99). No such book could be compiled without TWL

Join us for a free one-day conference on 14 January at the Shaw Library, LSE, to mark 100 years of The Women's Library. Speakers include Sally Alexander, Elizabeth Crawford, Caroline Derry, Clara Jones and Carmen Mangion. Email [email protected] if you'd like to come.

Few things are more enjoyable than taking a Zoom walk through Christmassy Rome in the company of @understandingrome.bsky.social . Do look at the details in her post about how to book for the 21 Dec walk. An hour of pleasure - sights and sounds - without stirring from the sofa

@britishlibrary.bsky.social I made arrangements some time ago to come to BL on 10 Dec and, although I now realise I won't actually be able to look at books (!!), because I'm also meeting people I would like to know if the Members' Room/cafes will be open? There is nothing on the website about this

I hope that the 115th anniversary of Black Friday is a suitable day to say how much I am enjoying reading my third book by @lissakevans.bsky.social.

I don't understand what is meant by 'unsealed' in this story. Since the 1980s Levy's papers were owned by Camellia plc & were open to researchers. Christine Pullen's biography of Levy, The Woman Who Dared (2010) was based on them. www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...

Any takers?https://womanandhersphere.com/2025/11/17/closing-down-sale-a-few-more-offerings/

Article updated with wonderful new info from the archives of both Pierre Frey (Paris) and The Women's Library@LSE. wp.me/p2AEiO-245

As it's #newfriendsday, why not think about joining the Friends of the Women's Library? We hold monthly talks on zoom and in-person at LSE Library, sometimes purchase items for the collection and hold an annual essay competition. Find out more here: friendsofthewomenslibrary.org.uk/join-us/

One of my favourite columns on the Palatine this morning, here’s a post about the time I went to where it came from (no paywall) open.substack.com/pub/understa...

Well, the sale stock is flying off the shelves. So I am adding new items. Do have a look. wp.me/p2AEiO-2j5

After 41 years of selling books etc by & about women - here is my closing-down catalogue - Number 214. womanandhersphere.com/2025/10/16/f... More books will be added - so do check. Writing continues - new book from Bloomsbury in 2026 - The British Women's Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects

I'm giving an online talk tomorrow at 7pm for BALH - offering some ideas about how to research the women's suffrage movement in your locality. You've until 6.30 pm tomorrow to sign up for it. Have a look - www.balh.org.uk/event-balh-v...

September's (free) Postcard from Rome: a beach day at the tail end of summer, and a rediscovered Mantegna lost for five centuries and rediscovered lurking in Pompei

August's (free) monthly newsletter is out. Grotteschi and Grande Torino, after all one is never far from Rome! understandingrome.substack.com/p/augusts-mo...

We are excited to share a new opportunity to research with our unique archive collections. Our 3 Library Fellowships offer up to 6 weeks to conduct original research that will provide new perspectives on our collections. Applications open until 22 September. Read more www.lse.ac.uk/library/what...