A "New Woman's" Commonplace Book

1887

I am so incredibly tired of the ads I’ve been seeing lately. I was looking through Theatre Annual, and I came across this add for new dresses and wigs. I absolutely despise the uncomfortable things, so I don’t understand how some women spend all of their day in an itchy wig and heavy dress! I don’t even want to begin talking about corsets. Why should anyone be forced into a device that restricts their breathing? Tightening a corset is unbelievably harsh on the body, and if I had my way, I would never wear one again. I bet if the men were made to wear corsets, the things would…

1900

This semester has been a very exhilarating time for me and my schoolmates. We took a class photo a couple weeks ago! That does not sound like much to the ordinary person, but it was an extremely important day for all of us. I have had the pleasure to attend St. Hilda’s College this year, and my memories from this place will certainly last me a lifetime. I suppose we are history in the making or something of the sort, as it is quite uncommon for women to seek higher education. If fact, my own family has voiced their disappointment in my travels to Oxford in order to study here.…

 1914

I recently came across this WSPU postcard in one of the local post offices near my home. I was there to simply send a letter to one of my dear cousins, when I noticed this card on the rack next to me. It depicts the demonstration for women’s voting in Hyde Park back in June of 1908. I was so surprised to see this and decided I must purchase it! I was at that exact demonstration all those years ago! I think if you look hard enough, you might be able to recognize me amongst the crowd. I remember it so vividly, because there was so much excitement throughout the park, and…