| Description | The Society was founded by Miss Annie Leigh Browne, and developed as a network of women, many of whom were also involved in other Liberal and suffragist organisations. It became a strong campaigning force, lobbying MP’s, but also giving practical support to women who chose to seek election to local government, and was active in seeking out possible candidates. The organisation existed in various forms from the late 1880’s until around the time of the First World War. In 1907 the “Qualification of Women” Act clarified that women (ratepayers) were able to be elected to Borough and County Councils. This landmark enabling Act came about partly because of the lobbying of an influential group of women, networking as the ‘Women’s Local Government Society’. It followed years of uncertainty and confusion, which included challenges in the courts when women first tried to stand for the Local County Councils, women losing their influence on education matters when free-standing boards were absorbed into councils, and losing their places on Urban District Councils when towns grew and sought borough status. Although women had been able to be elected to various ad-hoc boards since the 1870’s, and could be members on the new urban and rural district councils from 1894, the 1907 act gave them the right to stand anywhere, and to become mayors. The records here relate to the Oldham 'branch' of the Society. Up until 1908 Mrs Alfred Emmott acted as the Oldham correspondent. After 1908 Marjory Lees took on this role and she appears to have continued in this role until the society ceased its work at around the time of the First World War. |