| Discrete Collections | The Women's Library |
| Title | Records of the Council of Married Women |
| Ref No | 5CMW |
| Box Fetch No | Box FL232-Box FL235 |
| Level | Collection |
| Date | 1944-1971 |
| Extent | 4 A boxes |
| Admin Biographical History | 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. |
| Description | The archive consists of Minutes of the Executive Committee (1952-1959, 1969) and Annual General Meeting (1957-1964, 1967), Chair'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 publication including the `Bulletin'. |
| Related Material | Also held at The women's Library are the Papers of Helena Normanton (7HLN) and the Papers of Lady Helen Nutting (7LHN). |
| Related Record | 7LHN |
| 7HLN |
| Access Status | Open |
| Access Conditions | This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library @ LSE in advance of their first visit. |