National Council of Women, Halifax Branch

The following source list was originally available only on paper in one of the West Yorkshire Archive Service offices. It may have been compiled many years ago and could be out of date. It was designed to act as a signpost to records of interest on a particular historical subject, but may relate only to one West Yorkshire district, or be an incomplete list of sources available.

National Council of Women

The background to this organisation lay in the work of Miss Ellice Hopkins and Miss Emily Janes with friendless girls, resulting in the formation of local Unions of Women Workers in many districts. A system of local conferences was instituted, held annually in different places in the country, the first being at Barnsley in 1889. They reached such a high standard of excellence and were so well attended that it was felt that a bigger and more embracing organisation was required than the original Associations for Friendless Girls and the local Unions of Women Workers which were increasing everywhere. On 29 January 1895, the Conference Committee therefore disbanded itself, and invited a number of outstanding women with various interests to join and frame an organisation on national lines to be called the National Union Of Women Workers.

In its constitution, its objectives were

(1) To focus and re-distribute information likely to be of interest to women

(2) To promote the social, moral and religious welfare of women

(3) To organise conferences and assist the formation of local unions

In October 1895 the Annual Conference was held at Nottingham, and this date was considered to be the "birthday" of the organisation. A central office was opened in London and in January 1896 the first number of "An Occasional Paper" appeared. In 1896, the Countess of Aberdeen, President of the International Council of Women (formed in Washington in 1888) invited the Union to federate into the International Council. After some hesitation this was agreed in 1897. The International Council held its 2nd quinquennial gathering in London in 1899. Very quickly, a network of branches developed throughout the United Kingdom and other organisations became affiliated to the Union because of the range of work and wide membership. By 1905 the number of branches had risen to 40 and the number of affiliated societies to between 110 and 120. From 1911-1916, Queen Mary was the Patron of the Union. The name National Union of Women Workers was used for some years, at first alone and then in conjunction with the title National Council of Women. It was finally discarded in 1918 and the organisation formally became known as the National Council of Women of Great Britain. By that time there were 126 branches and 156 affiliated societies. Regional Councils were also set up to improve administration and communication.

The original aims and objectives, among others, were to end discrimination against women, to improve the conditions of life for all, to inform and interest women in participating in public life and in influencing matters relating to women. Early areas of improvement included the establishment of women police, magistrates and jurors, and in the areas of equal pay and equal opportunities. In the Second World War, members and branches looked after child refugees from Europe. The Council was also particularly concerned with the position of women in the armed forces. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s women were becoming anxious to participate in the life of the country NCW worked to remove discrimination against women in all areas and to encourage women to take their full place in society. The organisation was always a non-party, non-sectarian pressure group. In 1951 it became an Incorporated Body governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Halifax Branch

48 people attended the 1st meeting of the Halifax Branch of the Council of Women Workers in November 1918 and Mrs C Burn was elected President. In 1919, 2 members stood for the Town Council. Despite having 21 members, the Branch was discontinued in 1921, as it "was not doing sufficient work to justify its existence".

In 1935, the Branch was reformed under the Presidency of Alderman Mrs Miriam Lightowler JP, the 1st women to be Mayor of Halifax. By 1936 there were 97 members. In 1944, 2 members were elected to the Halifax Infirmary Board and 2 women police officers were appointed. Local issues campaigned for by the Branch included better public toilets, a woman police surgeon for rape, sex education, smear tests, equal pay for women traffic wardens, a refuge for battered wives and a Well Woman Centre.

In 1970, one of the Branch's members, Dr Janet Cockcroft became President of the NCW and 2 years later became a Vice-President of the International Council of Women for 3 years. In 1973, she was appointed as the UK representative to the United Nations Status of Women Commission, serving as Vice-Chairman in 1976 and Chairman 1978-1980. In 1986, another Halifax member Eve Martin became the national President. Both women received OBEs for their work. The Branch finally closed in 2003.