Special Collections & Archives

Women's History Month in the Special Collections and Archives, by Kornelia Cepok (Archivist)

To celebrate Women's History Month in March (and International Women's Day on 8th March), we are highlighting the stories of some notable women who feature in the Foyle Special Collections and Archives. These Roehampton collections contain books and other resources owned and created by remarkable women; some collections relate entirely to the work of women who were exceptional in their fields.

• Ann Hutchinson Guest Collection. Ann Hutchinson Guest MBE was a world renowned expert, author and researcher in dance notation and movement analysis. She co-founded and directed the National Dance Bureau in New York and established the Language of Dance Centre in London. During her long and accomplished life (Ann died last year at the age of 103) she accumulated a large collection of books relating to all types of movement and dance, as well as a vast amount of research papers relating to her work, the majority of which has been deposited with the University of Roehampton.
  

• Richmal Crompton Archive. Crompton was an author most famous for her Just William stories, aimed at young readers. Often assumed to be male due to her unusual name, she was a prolific and highly successful author in her day, working simultaneously on William stories and adult fiction in which remarkable female characters were put in the spotlight. From 1919, over the course of 50 years Richmal Crompton published 39 William books and 49 adult fiction books, in addition to other publications. Her literary and personal archives, together with a collection of her publications, personal library and artefacts such as her desk (seen in the photograph below) and typewriter, have all been deposited with the University.
  

• The Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies serves as an internationally renowned source of information on Froebelian and early childhood education. This historical archive holds a wealth of material relating to women of note in this field, women whose work has had a huge influence on educational provision, research and policies. This photograph shows the all-female students (and future educators) who attended Froebel Education Institute in 1897-98.
  
  This 1892 notebook from Fanny Paul, who taught at Froebel, epitomises the progressive Froebelian attitude to education.  At a time when Victorian schooling culture focussed on strict discipline, she writes about  "the power of love" rather than punishment to win children's hearts and minds:

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  "Kinder Garten Rules: No punishment is allowed; if a child is unmanageable, appeal to the Kinder Garten Mistress, but try the power of love and firmness first." 
   
• ...and last but not least, let’s not forget all those pioneering female children’s book writers and illustrators, such as Kate Greenaway, Beatrix Potter and many more, all of whom can be found (alongside many more historical volumes, such as this Girl's Own Annual from 1920) in our fantastic Children’s Literature Collection.
  

To find out more or to visit, get in touch with our Archivist Kornelia Cepok.