Graphical version

Women's Library

Council of Married Women

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 106 5CMW

Held at: Women's Library

Title: Council of Married Women

Date(s): 1944-1971

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 4 A boxes

Name of creator(s): Council of Married Women

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

See the corporate history for Council of Married Women; 1952-1969

The Council of Married Women (1952-1969) was established in 1952 as a result of disagreements within the Married Women's Association. The Council's president (Helena Normanton), Chair (Doreen Gorsky), Deputy Chair (Lady Helen Nutting) and Hon. Secretary (Evelyn Hamilton) left identical positions in the older organisation over the issue of certain members opposition to Normanton's draft evidence to the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce. The new group's aims were to support the institution of marriage and the principle of equality between the two partners at the same time as promoting legislation for equal economic and legal status for wives', mothers and widows, especially in the case of separation or divorce. Membership was open to women who were or had been married. After the Royal Commission had taken place, their main action was focused on attempting to have a Private Members Bill passed to give a wife a statutory right to a portion of the family income after all expenses had been paid. Through the 1960s the Council encountered financial difficulties and the organisation's work largely devolved upon Lady Nutting alone. The organisation was wound up in 1969.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

The archive consists of Minutes of the Executive Committee (1952-1959, 1969) and Annual General Meeting (1957-1964, 1967), Chairperson's reports (1953, 1956-9), papers related to the formation of the Council of Married Women, correspondence files including papers and press cuttings (1944-1970), Bills, Acts and Parliamentary file (1956-1971) and file of evidence to the Royal Commission on Marriage and Divorce (1952-1956), financial papers (1961-1969) and publications including the Bulletin.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Fawcett Library Catalogue

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited by Coutt's Bank as Executors of Lady Helen Nutting on 10 Sep 1974.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Also held at The women's Library are the Papers of Helena Normanton (7HLN) and the Papers of Lady Helen Nutting (7LHN).

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Finding aid created by export from CALM v7.2.14 Archives Hub EAD2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.