1883. 8vo, pp. 11, [1] blank; with small split at tail, remains of adhesive; previously bound. stitched as issued, though with remains of adhesive visible suggesting previously bound in a sammelband. An insight into the work of provincial suffrage organisations, being an early annual report for the Bristol Women’s Liberal Association, founded in December 1881. The report provides details of the various events held during the year to raise awareness of women’s rights, together with a list Association members.
Anna Maria and Mary Priestman moved from Lancashire to Bristol in 1870 and became prominent figures in the Bristol suffrage movement, both serving on the executive committee of the Bristol and West England Society for Women’s Suffrage which came under the umbrella of the law abiding NUWSS. Both sisters, however, ‘were willing to take part in acts of civil protest at not having the vote, refusing to pay tax in 1870, which led to their dining chairs being removed until their fine was paid anonymously. ‘No Vote, No Tax’ was a popular slogan in the women’s suffrage campaign and had played an important role in other historical campaigns. ‘In 1881, alongside Emily Sturge, Anna Maria formed the first women's liberal association that would only support candidates who agreed with women’s enfranchisement. Anna Maria favoured the mobilisation of the middle and lower classes, leading to her raising £1000 for the Bristol and West England branch of the national suffrage to support organising activities and work. After the 1884 women’s suffrage movement amendment failed, Anna Maria focused on the women’s liberal association and supporting enfranchisement. After the split in the central committee for women’s suffrage in 1888, she remained with the central national society and became a member of their executive committee. Anna Maria formed the union of practical suffragists in 1896 after a defeat in maintaining the WLF's support for candidates who did support women’s enfranchisement. She wrote a pamphlet entitled ‘Women and Votes’, published by the union in 1896. This seemed a success in 1903 when the WLF agreed to only support candidates that also supported enfranchisement, but in 1905, she was removed as president of the Bristol and West England women’s liberal association. After this, Anna Maria and Mary joined WSPU in 1907, donating £25 in 1908 and continuing to contribute in 1909. Anna Maria and her sister contributed to the election expenses of George Lansbury, a suffrage candidate supported by Christabel Pankhurst. Anna Maria complied with the 1911 census, by this time she was apart of the NUWSS. As a pacifist, Anna Maria, with her sister Mary, attended the peace conference in Berne in 1892, an international forum concerning issues of international conflict. Anna Maria died within 5 days of her sister Mary in 1914, it has been inferred that neither could handle the prospect of the looming Great War. Contributed by Becca Aspden, URSS student researcher, History, Warwick University. Sources: Crawford, E. The Women’s Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide, 1866-1928 (London, 1999) pp. 565-67; Liddington, J. Vanishing for the Vote: Suffrage, Citizenship and the Battle for the Census (Manchester University Press, 2014) p.319’ (Mapping Women’s Suffrage, 1911 website © Tara Morton / University of Warwick)