Mary Anne Baikie
Mary Anne Baikie | |
---|---|
Born | Kirkwall, Scotland | 29 June 1861
Died | 1950 (aged 88–89) Kirkwall, Scotland |
Organization | Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society |
Known for | Suffrage leadership and oratory |
Movement | Suffragist |
Spouse | Provost Alfred Baikie (married 1902–1947) |
Mary Anne Baikie (29 June 1861 – 1950) a Scottish
Suffragist leadership
Baikie chaired the first official public meeting in Orkney to form a society for women's suffrage, on 25 October 1909.[1] This followed a preliminary meeting at the home of James and Bina Cursiter, when Chrystal Macmillan, the suffragist champion of women's rights to a university education, had visited in Orkney, a month before.[2]
Baikie spoke at the launch in Kirkwall Town Hall, saying:
I do not come as a political woman, but I have come as a friend of the cause of women, because of my sincere conviction, held since my early youth, that the suffrage will raise the status, and improve the condition of all women – particularly the women workers.[3]
She proceeded to argue that from
The Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society's membership grew significantly.[4] By March 1910, one hundred and sixteen signatures were collected in favour of women's suffrage, including 50% of the town councillors, and sent to the M.P. for Wick Burghs constituency.[5] In 1911, the Stromness WSPU branch merged with OWSS.[4]
Link to national suffrage movement
Under Baikie's chairmanship, the society could host a debate[6] for both sides of the argument without acrimony.[5] By June 1910, Baikie was also developing a local Tankerness group, and an onerous 10 day tour by Wilhemina Hay Lamond (later known as Elizabeth Abbott) from the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage,[4] with meetings with fishermen at the pier, and in drawing-room groups, in Holm, Westray, Stronsay, Sanday (and North Ronaldsay), Kirkwall, Shapinsay, Rousay, Deerness, and Stromness); Lamond also aimed to visit remote Fair Isle.[7]
In December 1911, Baikie convened another public meeting (including a social soireé) where she explained the Conciliation Bill and suffragist position, reported as "a brilliant speech, characterised by a sweet spirit of reasonableness, which was as convincing as it was enjoyable."[8]
Orcadian members grew eventually to 100 by 1916,[4] and in 1912, there were already 60 members on four of the Orkney islands, holding regular public meetings and having keynote visits from leading speakers. A visit was arranged for Dr. Elsie Inglis from the Edinburgh leadership on 24 April 1912, when she described the Orkney society as having "the most enthusiastic officers".[9] A special "Orcadian Banner" designed by local artist, Stanley Cursiter and Shetlander Christina Jamieson was carried at the Coronation Procession in London by Baikie's niece, Miss Courtenay,[10] with the other representative groups of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies.[4] The Orkney group was the only Scottish group who also contributed to the Women's March from Edinburgh to London.[4]
In November 1912, local paper
Baikie went on to say: "Sex antagonism and bitterness won't win our cause for us, and we will win it"; and "in the name of common sense it is time to put an end to this unfair and unseemly struggle in a country world famous for its justice."[12] Other speakers mentioned the Scandinavian "blood" of Orcadians as Denmark or Norway, women already had the vote, and could soon stand for public office on the same conditions as men.[12] Convinced of the case, the meeting unanimously endorsed Baikie's proposal that women's suffrage should be included in the Act.[13]
In 1914, the Orcadian group asked the Kirkwall Burgh council to send a senior representative to the National Suffrage Societies event at the Albert Hall, London as other Scottish cities were sending their Lord Provost and office bearers to meet the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith.[9]
Legacy
In 1911, Robert Gallon painted an oil portrait of Baikie entitled Mary Anne Baikie (Milanne), née Traill. The portrait hangs in The Orkney Museum, which is in Tankerness House, the former home of the Baikies of Tankerness.[14]
In 2018, to mark International Women's Day and the centenary of (some) women's right to vote, the Northlight Gallery in Stromness presented an animated short film called A Gude Cause Maks a Strong Erm. The film was written by Orkney-based journalist Fiona Grahame, painted and animated by Martin Laird, with a musical score by James Watson and narration by Kim Foden.[15] The film had an advertising poster in the form of a Cubist style graphic abstract of Baikie's portrait, painted by Laird. After touring film festivals it won the Most Creative/Original award at the Scottish Short Film Festival in Glasgow.[16]
See also
- Feminism in the United Kingdom
- List of suffragists and suffragettes
- List of women's rights activists
- List of women's rights organizations
- Timeline of women's suffrage
- Women's suffrage organizations
- 'A Gude Cause Maks a Strong Erm' animated short film
References
- ^ "Formation of Women's Suffrage Society in Orkney". The Orkney Herald. 27 October 1909.
- OCLC 34146764.
- ^ a b c d "Women's Suffrage Movement – Mrs Baikie of Tankerness on Women's Rights – Formation of Orkney Society". The Orcadian. 30 October 1909. p. 1.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-135-43402-1.
- ^ a b "Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society". The Common Cause. 17 March 1910. p. 697.
- ^ "Scottish". The Common Cause. 7 March 1912. p. 822.
- ^ Lamond, W.H. (23 June 1910). "Scottish Federation Work in Orkney". Common Cause. p. 167.
- ^ "Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society". The Orcadian. 9 December 1911.
- ^ a b Dusty (10 March 2018). "Orkney Archive – get dusty: A Suffrage Search". Orkney Archive - get dusty. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Federation". The Common Cause. 7 September 1911. p. 382.
- ^ "The Labour Party". The Labour Party. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society – Address by Mrs Baikie of Tankerness – Annual Report by the Secretary – A Successful Social". The Orcadian. 16 November 1912. p. 3.
- ^ "Opening Meeting of the Orcadian Society". The Common Cause. 20 December 1912. p. 647.
- ^ "Mary Anne Baikie (Milanne), née Traill | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Woman's Suffrage Exhibition at Northlight Gallery - martinlaird.scot Artwork". martinlaird.scot. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
- ^ Drysdale, Neil. "Animated film about suffragette movement in Orkney wins Scottish award". Press and Journal. Retrieved 11 February 2021.