{"id":23626,"date":"2024-11-11T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/?p=23626"},"modified":"2024-11-10T16:10:52","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T16:10:52","slug":"red-ellen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/2024\/11\/11\/red-ellen\/","title":{"rendered":"RED ELLEN:"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RED ELLEN:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People\u2019s History Museum exhibition 9th<\/sup> Nov<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

previewed by I love Manchester newsletter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This November, the People\u2019s History Museum<\/a> (PHM)  is shining a spotlight on one of the North\u2019s most indomitable figures, Ellen Wilkinson.(below left) <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Known as \u201cRed Ellen,\u201d Wilkinson\u2019s legacy as a champion of social justice, a fiery parliamentarian and an indefatigable advocate for the working class was celebrated in a special event on Saturday, 9th November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event featured talks, exhibits and a special pop up display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marking the centenary of her election to Parliament, the exhibition dives into her life and times, inviting visitors to explore her world through an extensive collection of personal archives, artefacts, and exhibits that brings her story to life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellen Wilkinson was born in 1891 in Manchester, a city that shaped her deep commitment to social justice from an early age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She earned her nickname \u201cRed Ellen\u201d not just for her trademark fiery red hair, but also for her impassioned embrace of socialist ideals and her fight for the rights of working people. When she entered Parliament on 29th October 1924 as one of the first women MPs, she brought with her a determination to address the inequalities she had witnessed growing up in the industrial North. Representing Middlesbrough East, she was a beacon for change in an era where women\u2019s voices were still largely marginalised in British politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1935, Wilkinson was elected as MP for Jarrow, a struggling industrial town that would soon become synonymous with her name. Wilkinson\u2019s dedication to her constituents culminated in the Jarrow Crusade, a moment that remains one of the defining acts of solidarity in British history. The exhibition captures this defining period, immersing visitors in the sights, sounds, and emotions of those 282 miles Wilkinson and her companions walked in pursuit of justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The year was 1936. The Great Depression had taken a severe toll on Jarrow, with the town\u2019s shipyard and steelworks shut down, leaving thousands unemployed. Wilkinson, along with local leader David Riley, spearheaded the Jarrow Crusade\u2014a monumental march that saw 200 men walking from Jarrow to London.Their mission was clear: to bring attention to the urgent need for employment in their town and to implore the government to take action. Over 26 gruelling days, they trekked to Parliament, gathering support along the way and drawing national attention to Jarrow\u2019s plight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon reaching Parliament, Wilkinson presented a petition bearing 12,000 signatures to the government, demanding action. This heartfelt plea, born out of a genuine concern for her constituents, remains one of the most memorable acts of civil protest of the 1930s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition offers a chance to see original press cuttings, photographs, and even handwritten notes from Wilkinson herself, offering an intimate glimpse into this iconic journey. Visitors can delve into the history of the Jarrow Crusade through these poignant artefacts, feeling the weight of the struggle and the impact of Wilkinson\u2019s resolute spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After her efforts in Jarrow, Wilkinson continued to break barriers. In 1945, she was appointed Minister for Education, becoming only the second woman ever to serve in the British Cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her tenure, she introduced transformative changes that shaped the educational landscape. From the provision of free school milk to raising the school leaving age to 15, Wilkinson\u2019s impact on education was profound. Her advocacy for expanding university scholarships opened doors for countless students, especially those from working-class backgrounds who had previously been excluded from higher education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PHM\u2019s exhibition takes visitors inside Wilkinson\u2019s personal records and correspondence, shedding light on her political philosophy and the many battles she fought. Alongside her achievements, Wilkinson faced setbacks, such as losing her Middlesbrough seat in 1931. But even in defeat, she remained undaunted, returning to Parliament with renewed vigour in 1935.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition\u2019s curators, Helen Antrobus and Dr. Tessa Chynoweth, provide a nuanced view of Wilkinson\u2019s career, balancing her triumphs with her challenges, and showing her as a fully realised, complex individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Central to the exhibition is the opportunity to explore Wilkinson\u2019s own scrapbooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are no ordinary collections\u2014they are vibrant, personal records that provide a first-hand look at Wilkinson\u2019s life and thoughts from the early 1920s until her death in 1947. On display will be five of her six scrapbooks, which are filled with press clippings, photos, and notes that document both her public and private life. Wilkinson\u2019s scrapbooks serve as a window into her relentless work ethic and her personal reflections on the tumultuous times in which she lived.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PHM also boasts other artifacts from her life, including copies of\u00a0The Labour Woman<\/em>\u00a0magazine to which she regularly contributed, as well as correspondence from her time supporting the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. Each piece in the exhibit serves as a testament to Wilkinson\u2019s internationalist perspective, her passion for activism, and her commitment to social justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilkinson\u2019s story does not end there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She paved the way for future generations of women in politics, including today\u2019s Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, who represents Ashton-under-Lyne, a constituency Wilkinson contested back in 1923. Rayner herself is a proud redhead and has often cited Wilkinson as an inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a fitting tribute, the PHM now displays the jacket Rayner wore during her first appearance at Prime Minister\u2019s Questions\u2014a tangible link between Wilkinson\u2019s trailblazing legacy and contemporary political life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, visitors to the exhibition can purchase a newly commissioned portrait postcard of Wilkinson by artist Scarlett Rickard, joining a series that includes other influential women like Sylvia Pankhurst and Annie Besant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These postcards symbolize Wilkinson\u2019s enduring influence and her place among the giants of British social history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ellen Wilkinson Archive Exploration event on 9 November had two sessions, running from 11 am to 12:45 pm and from 1:15 pm to 3 pm. Beyond this special event, the PHM will host a pop-up exhibition on Wilkinson\u2019s life, free for all visitors, from 10 am to 5 pm. And don\u2019t forget to stop by the Open Kitchen Caf\u00e9 & Bar for refreshments as you explore the museum\u2019s galleries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RED ELLEN: People\u2019s History Museum exhibition 9th Nov previewed by I love Manchester newsletter This November, the People\u2019s History Museum (PHM)  is shining a spotlight on one of the North\u2019s most indomitable figures, Ellen Wilkinson.(below left) Known as \u201cRed Ellen,\u201d Wilkinson\u2019s legacy as a champion of social justice, a fiery parliamentarian and an indefatigable advocate for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23626"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24033,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23626\/revisions\/24033"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}