The Shetland Women's Suffrage Association was an organisation involved in campaigning for

women’s suffrage Women's suffrage is the right of women to vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffrage was in effect during ...

, based in

Shetland Shetland (until 1975 spelled Zetland), also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago in Scotland lying between Orkney, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, marking the northernmost region of the United Kingdom. The islands lie about to the ...

Formation

The association was formed in 1909. Their first meeting was held in the home of

Christina Jamieson Christina Jamieson (1864–1942) was a British writer, playwright and suffragist known for her association with the Shetland Isles. Life Jameson was born to Robert and Barbara Jamieson on 30 June 1864 at Cruisdale, Sandness on the Mainland of S ...

on 23 October 1909. There were 19 women and 1 man present, and the meeting was convened by

Activities

The organisation was affiliated to the

National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies The National Union of Women Suffrage Societies (NUWSS), also known as the ''suffragists'' (not to be confused with the suffragettes) was an organisation founded in 1897 of women's suffrage societies around the United Kingdom. In March 1919 it w ...

. As such, their activities mirrored those of many other suffragist groups. They conveyed their message by addressing public meetings, distributing leaflets, and writing to the local press to promote the cause of women's suffrage. In 1911, a banner, created by

Stanley Cursiter Stanley Cursiter (29 April 1887 – 22 April 1976) was an Orcadian artist who played an important role in introducing Post-Impressionism and Futurism to Scotland. He served as the keeper (1919–1930), then director (1930–1948), of the Nat ...

, of the Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society, and

was taken to London for the Suffrage Coronation Procession. During the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the society provided assistance to injured soldiers. They prepared bandages, held first aid classes, and nursing classes. The group also raised money, contributing to the

Scottish Women's Hospitals The Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Services (SWH) was founded in 1914. It was led by Dr Elsie Inglis and provided nurses, doctors, ambulance drivers, cooks and orderlies. By the end of World War I, 14 medical units had been outfitted and ...

by donating money for the "Lerwick Bed".

Notable members

, secretary. Alice Lyall Leisk, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer (daughter of Harriet Leisk). Harriet Leisk, chair. Anna Stout, first president

References

{{Shetland Organizations established in 1909 Scottish suffragists Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom Suffrage organisations in the United Kingdom Organisations based in Shetland Politics of Shetland 20th century in Shetland

Formation

Activities

Notable members

Further reading

See also

References