Necessary Women at the Palace of Westminster

To mark the publication in paperback of Necessary Women (2023), the authors will address our group about the dozens of extraordinary women who worked at the Palace of Westminster before the era of Universal Suffrage. Drawing on new research from the Parliamentary Archives, government records and family history sources, historians and parliamentary insiders Mari Takayanagi and Elizabeth Hallam Smith bring these unsung heroes to life. They chart the changing context for working women within and beyond the Palace of Westminster, uncovering women left out of the history books – including Mary Jane Anderson, a previously unknown suffragette.

The talks will be held in the lovely Jubilee Room. They will be preceded by a wine reception and there will be Q&A at the end.

Dr Elizabeth Hallam Smith
Historical Research Consultant at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, and an Hon Research Professor at the University of York..

Dr Mari Takayanagi
Archivist, Heritage Professional, Historian of Parliament and women. Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Please note that entry to the Palace will commence at 6 pm to get through security etc. (more on that in due course).
SPECIAL OFFER on the book. You'll be able to pre-order Necessary Women with a 10% discount via the parliamentary shop which will be ready for you at the talk. We'll let you know when this is set up.

This event is for London Historians Members only. Join London Historians.

Host or Publisher London Historians