WOMEN, POLITICS AND WELFARE
The Papers of Nancy Astor, 1879-1964, from Reading University Library

Part 3: Subject Files - Health, Birth Control and Social Insurance

Part 4: Subject Files - Women, the Franchise, Marriage Laws and Papers regarding Pressure Groups

Publisher's Note - Part 4

Nancy Astor was the first woman to take her seat in Parliament. She fought and won the by-election at Plymouth in 1919 when her husband, Waldorf Astor, had to resign the seat after succeeding to the Viscountcy. She declared her intention "to fight, not only for the men, but for the women and children of England."

Successively elected seven times until her retirement in 1945, Nancy Astor fought for equal pay and opportunities for women, better education and health provision and the appointment of women to public boards and inspectorates.

She remained the only woman in the House of Commons until 1921, when she was joined by Margaret Wintringham, a Liberal. In 1924 the number of women rose to 6; and in 1929 to 14.

Many women's organisations sought her support and this part provides details of her dealings with them. It also shows her involvement with a whole range of other pressure groups working for social and welfare reform.

This is an excellent source for the study of Gender and Politics in Britain and also provides many useful comparisons with women's political progress in the United States.

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