Women's Freedom League]]>
Edith How Martyn (c. 1875-1954) was the joint Honorary Secretary of the WSPU and, from 1907 co-founder and Honorary Secretary of the Women's Freedom League. In 1906 she became one of the first Suffragettes to be imprisoned in Holloway, after being arrested outside the House of Commons. In 1911 she became Honorary Head of the Political and Militancy Department of the WFL until April 1912. (Museum of London). How-Martyn was also an advocate of birth control.

On the verso, the card is addressed to Valenciennes France, and postmarked 1909. The handwritten message reads: "One of the "suffragettes" in whose book I have recently taken some interest. / I think I see you speaking to a large "meeting." [F.N.?]]]>
Pankhurst, Emmeline, 1858-1928
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>

Emmeline Pankhurst was a charismatic leader and eloquent speaker. By 1913 she had served three prison sentences; two in 1908 for leading a deputation to Parliament, and for inciting the public to 'rush' the House of Commons. In the wake of the window smashing of March 1912, she was sentenced to nine months in prison for conspiracy to commit damage.

This photograph was distributed on a postcard and shows her wearing the 'Holloway Badge' at her throat. The badge; an arrow of purple, white and green enamel mounted on a portcullis was designed by her daughter, Sylvia, and was awarded to suffragettes who had been imprisoned for their involvement in the campaign. (Museum of London)]]>
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>
Constance Lytton joined the WSPU in 1908. She served four prison sentences. Born into an aristocratic family, Lytton was dismayed at the special treatment she received from the authorities owing to her family connections. When arrested in Liverpool while disguised as a working class woman 'Jane Warton', she was sentenced to hard labour and forcibly fed when going on hunger strike. This exposed the worse treatment to which working class prisoners were subject. Lytton later suffered a stroke owing to her prison experiences. (Museum of London)]]>
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>
Rosamund Massy was the daughter of Lady Knyvett, also a member of the WSPU. Massy became a WSPU organiser and campaigned during many by-elections. She was imprisoned several times for her suffragette activities. (Museum of London)]]>

Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>
Charlotte Marsh joined the Women's Social and Political Union in 1907. She did not, however, become active in the movement until 1908 when she finished her training as a sanitary inspector. During her first WSPU deputation to Parliament Square in June 1908 Charlotte was arrested for obstruction and imprisoned in Holloway for one month. The following year she became WSPU organiser in Yorkshire. (Museum of London)]]>
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>
Mary Leigh was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union by 1907. She and Edith New became the first suffragette window smashers. Leigh served three prison sentences for her suffragette activities, and endured many episodes of forcible feeding. In 1909 she became drum-major of the WSPU drum and fife band, which often accompanied suffragette processions and demonstrations. (Museum of London)]]>
Demonstrations
England--London
Holloway (London, England)]]>

The poem refers to Holloway Prison in London, where many suffragists were imprisoned.]]>
Holloway (London, England)
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>

In the 1913 Derby she ran out on to the racetrack and attempted to stop the king's horse, Anmer. She received serious head injuries and died four days later at Epsom Cottage Hospital, surrounded by a suffragette guard of honour and purple, white and green flags. (Museum of London)]]>
England--London
Holloway (London, England)
Pankhurst, Emmeline, 1858-1928
Women's Social and Political Union (Great Britain)]]>