1. Helen Blackburn was a feminist, writer and campaigner for women's rights, especially in the field of employment.
17 Facts About Helen Blackburn
1. 2.
Helen Blackburn wrote books about women workers and a history of the women's suffrage movement in Britain and Ireland which became the "standard work".
3.
Helen Blackburn served as secretary of the National Society for Women's Suffrage and the West of England Suffrage Society, and co-founded the Freedom of Labour Defence League.
4.
Helen Blackburn's name appears on the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statue in Parliament Square.
5.
Helen Blackburn's parents were Bewicke Blackburn, a civil engineer who managed the slate quarries on Valentia, of County Kerry and Isabella Lamb of Co.
6.
In London, Helen Blackburn came into contact with the women of the Langham Place Group, especially Jessie Boucherett and Emily Faithfull.
7.
Helen Blackburn joined the National Society for Women's Suffrage in 1872 and was secretary of the executive committee of the society from 1874 to 1880.
8.
Helen Blackburn subsequently held similar positions in a number of related organisations.
9.
In 1880 Helen Blackburn was secretary of the West of England Suffrage Society in Bristol and was the main organizer of a large demonstration.
10.
Helen Blackburn edited the Women's Suffrage Calendar in 1896 and 1897.
11.
Helen Blackburn took opportunities to study, first in 1875, taking a class in Roman Law at University College London, and later classes at University College, Bristol.
12.
Helen Blackburn scaled down her work in 1895 to care for her aged father until his death, then resumed her work.
13.
Helen Blackburn was insistent that this would not include voluntary or amateurish work but it would show the products of female professionals.
14.
Helen Blackburn had previously edited Becker's writings in a collection called Words of a Leader.
15.
Helen Blackburn died aged 60 at her home in Greycoat Gardens, Westminster, London on 11 January 1903 and was buried at Brompton Cemetery.
16.
Helen Blackburn left her archives, and the decorated book collection, to Girton College, Cambridge.
17.
Helen Blackburn's will made provisions for establishing a loan fund for training young women.