Archive Evening - Forgotten stories: how women have shaped the Stationers’ Company throughout its history
Monday, 7 April 2025
Open event (non-members may book to attend)
“A Youth may be set a-float in the World as soon as he has got a Trade in his Head… but a Girl is such a tender, ticklish Plant to rear, tha[t] there is no permitting her out of Leading-strings till she is bound to a Husband.” - Robert Campbell, The London Tradesman, 1747
For our annual event honouring our Archive, we are examining how women have contributed to, influenced and shaped our Company throughout its history. 1556 saw our first woman to bind an apprentice, and 1668 our first freewoman. In 1933, the Company cloathed its first woman in the Livery; she would eventually become the Stationers' first female Court Assistant. As we celebrate the new portrait of our first woman Master in 2015, our theme revolves around the unsung stories from the past showing how women have made and continue to make their mark.
Our panel of speakers will explore the different ways in which women were involved in the Company. For the most part they were widows or daughters taking over a deceased husband’s or father’s business, though they made notable and significant contributions in their own name. They had the right to trade and bind apprentices at Stationers’ Hall and were eligible for Freedom but not Livery. In modern times women were admitted to the Company from 1977.
Beth DeBold is a doctoral researcher in History based at Newcastle University. Her collaborative project with the Stationers' focuses on networks of apprenticeship in the 17th and 18th century book trade, with particular interest in how women factored into these equations. She comes to her PhD project after a decade working in libraries and archives, including the Duke University Divinity School Library and the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Liveryman Rodney Mountford focuses on the history of the Stationers’ barge and hospitality that extended to ladies in limited circumstances!
Liveryman John Peacock brings to life the images of women represented in the Hall, their stories and roles throughout our history – there are more than at first sight.
Court Assistant Professor Linda Drew, bringing us right up to date, will tell the story of the portrait brief of Past Master Helen Esmonde, the selection of the artist, other portrait artists used as 'benchmarks' and portraits of other women Masters.
Dr Ruth Frendo, our Archivist will be joining the panel for the Q+A.
The evening is chaired by Court Assistant Carol Tullo. There will be a curated display of relevant documents and items from the Archive that will form part of the presentations and will complement the theme of the evening.
In addition, every attendee will be able to print or take away a letterpress printed keepsake on the theme of the evening designed by Liveryman Simon Trewin and graphic designer Tania Hurt-Newton who founded the Bell House Print Room and Bindery in 2023 in the 18th century house in Dulwich, home of Past Master Thomas Wright (1748) later Sheriff and Lord Mayor of London.
Schedule:
5.30 pm Exhibition opens and drinks reception
7.00 pm Presentations and panel discussion followed by Q+A
8.30 pm Drinks and sandwiches
9.30 pm Exhibition ends
Tickets:
£40 In-Person
£15 Online
