Sources for women's history

The archives at the University of Hull - and indeed archives held everywhere - contain numerous sources of evidence for the lives of women. These include items such as wills, diaries, accounts, commonplace books and letters recording ordinary and extraordinary lives.

We have chosen to highlight here some of the extraordinary lives represented in the archives held here, and the part played by women who have had strong religious, political, professional or artistic convictions which have shaped their lives.

Julia Varley (1871 - 1952), dressed in the prison
uniform which she wore as a suffragette [DJV/20]

The women we have chosen range in time from the Countess of Nithsdale, born in the 17^th century, to Sylvia Scaffardi, who died in 2001. They have campaigned for change, whether to living conditions, civil liberties or foreign policy; given a lifetime's professionalism and dedication to work for a purpose or organisation; or fought for people or causes dear to their heart.