The 12th Annual JH Whitley Memorial Lecture

J.H.Whitley was Liberal MP for Halifax 1900-28, Deputy Speaker 1911-1921 & Speaker of the House of Commons 1921-28. During that time he witnessed the progress of the movement for Women’s Suffrage and the eventual arrival of Women MPs. He is shown here in April 1921 with his predecessor James Lowther (Viscount Ullswater), Speaker 1905-21, from whom he may have inherited the suffrage items which will feature in this year’s lecture.

'We have been behind this insulting grille too long!' That was the cry of suffragettes in the House of Commons on 28 October 1908, as they chained themselves to the grille which covered the window of the Ladies' Gallery. J.H. Whitley was present in the Commons that evening to see and hear the furore. The following year, suffragettes chained themselves to statues in St. Stephen's Hall nearby; Whitley would have remembered this when he oversaw the decoration of the Hall as Speaker of the House of Commons, some twenty years later. This lecture will explore the campaign for 'Votes for Women' in Parliament from the time of Whitley and beyond. It will consider the part played by peaceful methods such as petitioning, the impact of suffragette militancy, and the role of the Speaker. It will particularly examine the exciting discovery of a 'suffragette chain' with potential links to three Speakers, and a reform medal with attached rosette, both newly acquired by the Parliamentary Art Collection.

Dr Mari Takayanagi

Dr Mari Takayanagi is Senior Archivist at the Parliamentary Archives, working in public services and outreach. She was co-curator for 'Voice and Vote', Parliament's major Vote 100 exhibition celebrating 100 years of the vote for the first women in 2018. She is also a historian, elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2023. Her research interests include legislation affecting women’s lives and gender equality, the early women MPs and Peers, and women staff in Parliament, as well as suffrage. Her book, 'Necessary Women: the Untold Story of Women Working in Parliament', co-authored with Elizabeth Hallam Smith, was published in 2023 by History Press.

The lecture will take place at the University of Huddersfield (Oastler Building). The talk is free to attend however please register your attendance via the 'Reserve a spot' button above.

Host or Publisher University of Huddersfield