[Certificate honoring Rosa May Billinghurst]

Title:

Description:

Militant suffragette Rosa May Billinghurst was a member of the Women's Social and Political Union. A childhood illness had paralyzed her from the waist down. Known as the “cripple suffragette,” she campaigned riding on a hand-powered tricycle and in a wheelchair. Billinghurst founded and led the Greenwich Branch of the WSPU and participated in window-smashing, hunger strikes, and other types of direct action. She was arrested several times and force-fed on at least one occasion. This printed certificate from the WSPU, signed by Emmeline Pankhurst and Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, thanks her for contributions to the fight for women’s suffrage. The certificate was designed by Sylvia Pankhurst, with the Angel of Freedom, jail portcullis, broad arrow, and other suffrage symbolism. The WSPU gave these certificates to suffragettes after their release from jail.

Creator:

Women’s Social and Political Union

Date:

1912

Coverage:

[London?]

Display Date:

[1912?]

Hover Text:

Rosa May Billinghurst — suffragette

Published Item:

Item Index:

Item Sort:

1900s

Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info