Letter from Caroline Phillips to Mr Murray (Rough Draft)
WriterWritten by
Caroline Phillips
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1874 - 1956)
DateMarch 1908
Object NameLetter
Mediumpaper and ink
ClassificationsSocieties
Dimensions14.3 × 22.1cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1988.
LocationOn Display - Gallery 14
Object numberABDMS082727
About MeThis is part of a collection of documents relating to Caroline Phillips (1874-1956), an Aberdonian journalist who was involved in the women's suffrage movement. The collection contains important correspondence between Phillips and key leaders in the suffrage movement, including Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst.James Murray Esq. M.P.
Dear Mr. Murray,
I sent you a ‘Free Press’ today containing an account of our first ‘at Home’. The affair was purely experimental and turned out a most successful, useful (because I got 23 new members, one cannot manage this in a big public meeting) and really bright & pleasant meeting. Through a variety of circumstances our programme was a 'scratch’, one which had to be made up practically after our guests arrived, a comparatively easy task when we have so many bright young accomplished people among our members. The remarkable feature of the meeting was that the question of Women's Suffrage was never lost sight of in a moment in this social gathering - votes & politics are lively interesting subjects - not the dry dreary affairs that some of the older women's political organisations make them. The spirit & success of last nights meeting only shows us how much better we can do in this way in the future. Your instance on the efficacy of the social side in indisputable. I dare say you know that Mrs Pankhurst is to be in Scotland speaking in Aberdeen on the 1st April, Edinburgh on the 2nd & Glasgow on the 3rd.
We are inclined to think that an afternoon public meeting would be best and that we should arrange a semi-social gathering for the evening of the same day with invitations on a large scale. We would like to make the last named [?] a brilliant dressy affair, what Lady Ramsay calls a ‘real shine‘! I have promises already of the very best musical talent the town affords including Herr Pakoring (violin) & Herr Lasek (Tenor). Are we too ambitious aspiring to hold this gathering in the Art Gallery? The desire for such beautiful surroundings me to ask you this question [ but it is perhaps ridiculous (crossed out) ] !
With best wishes
I am
Yours sincerely
[Caroline A. I. Phillips (crossed out) ]
(hand-written, probably rough draft dated around March 1908 - as reference made to Mrs Pankhursts meeting in other correspondence)
More About Me
One wonders if the planned “brilliant dressy affair” did actually take place here in Aberdeen’s Art Gallery?
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