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International Women's Month

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Friday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. To celebrate, Senate House Library is devoting a whole month to raising awareness of the many books, letters, leaflets and other unique items by, for, owned, and about women held by the library.

The Library’s unique items include a thank you letter to the University of London, dated in 1877, from prominent women, including Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, for having allowed women to obtain medical degrees; suffragette leaflets within the Heisler Collection; and an ornate ceiling dating back to 1875, hand-painted by suffragists Rhoda and Agnes Garrett.  

Events lined up for March include a lecture by Elizabeth Crawford about Gower Street’s Enterprising Women on 8 March and an accompanying display in the Senate House Library member’s area. On 13 March, Dame Menna Rawlings, UK ambassador to France, will deliver our Distinguished Speakers lecture, while on 14 March Emily Midorikawa will speak on Georgina Weldon.  

On 20 March the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, the High Commission of Canada and partners will hold an evening panel discussion to raise awareness about the problem of online harassment and gender-based violence against women parliamentarians.  

We will also be presenting a timeline of key events in the University’s history as a place where women can and have succeeded in their chosen fields. A brief history of the University’s proud history in recognising the achievements of women can be found in “Leading Women” Magazine. 

Keep an eye on Senate House Library social media throughout the month for more details.  

#SHLInspiringWomen 

This page was last updated on 5 March 2024