Pioneering Women Archivists in Early 20th Century England

by Elizabeth Shepherd

Overview

This book tells the story of four remarkable women who laid the foundations of English local archives in the early 20^th century: Ethel Stokes, Lilian Redstone, Catherine Jamison and Joan Wake. The book analyses their professional historical work, alongside their educational, social and family contexts, to reveal their place in the history of the archival profession.

Although this book focuses on the history of archives in early 20^th century England and on the contribution of women, it will also be of interest to anyone interested in the history of archives internationally. The book makes a new contribution to the growing literature about the role of women in the development of modern professions, such as medicine, nursing and psychoanalysis, and of disciplines including history, philosophy, literary and musical composition. It brings out the hidden voices of women in archival history which has previously been the history of great men, institutional archives, government commissions and reports and professional infrastructure. It also tells the story of women’s struggle for independence and education, of the ways in which women established independent cultural, social and family networks and shows how these women used their scholarly skills to earn a living.

The book will be of interest to archivists and records professionals in England and internationally; to students who are studying archives, records management, library science, cultural studies and related disciplines; and to historians in cognate fields such as feminist history, cultural studies, literary studies and biography.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781041073741
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/30/2025
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr Elizabeth Shepherd, Professor Emerita of Archives and Records Management, Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL).

Her research interests are in rights in records, information policy compliance, and government administrative data. She led the research project, MIRRA (Memory-Identity-Rights in Records-Access), which focused on information rights for care-experienced adults. She is an acknowledged expert on the history of the archive profession in 20th century England. She has published widely, including (with Geoffrey Yeo) the best-selling book Managing Records: a handbook of principles and practice (Facet Publishing, 2003) and the monograph, Archives and archivists in 20th Century England (Ashgate, 2009).

Table of Contents

1. Beginnings; 2. Women’s education in England before 1920; 3. Women record agents; 4. Great Historical Enterprises: the Victoria County History of England and the Complete Peerage; 5. Women’s work in World War One; 6. Women, family, and friendships; 7. Life of Chaucer Project at the University of Chicago; 8. National Associations for Records Preservation and for Archivists; 9. Women Archivists I; 10. Women Archivists II; 11. Endings

Editorial Reviews

A ground-breaking study of how women shaped the English archival profession and played formative roles in establishing key institutions despite their exclusion from permanent employment and advancement. At once a study of individual women and a compelling analysis of gender and work. Essential reading for those in archival fields.

Professor Maryanne Dever, Western Sydney University, Australia

This meticulously researched exploration into the influential careers of four female archivists illuminates the development of the importance of women as a defining characteristic of the UK profession. Scholars in gender studies and the history of work will find much to reflect on here; archival practitioners will relish the contemporary resonances.

Dr Margaret Procter, University of Liverpool, UK

From the Publisher