Lydia Becker (1827-1890) was born in the Manchester area in Feb 1827 the eldest of 15 children the surviving siblings being Mary, Esther, Edward, Wilfred, Arthur, John and Charles. Her father, Hannibal Leigh Becker (1803-1877) was the son of Ernest Hannibal Becker (1771-1852) a German immigrant who had settled in England and become a naturalised citizen. Hannibal married Mary Duncroft and became the proprietor of first a calico-printing works at Reddish and then a chemical works at Altham in Lancashire. The couple had fifteen children. Her early life was conventional her main interests were in astronomy and botany, and she wrote one book on each subject. In 1865, the family moved to central Manchester where Becker founded the Manchester Ladies' Literary Society, which was a centre for scientific interests and at the first meeting a paper written by Darwin for the event was read. The previous year she had attended a Social Science Association meeting and heard Barbara Bodichon lecture on women's emancipation. Bodichon encouraged her to contact Emily Davis. Through these individuals, Becker became involved with local suffrage groups. In Feb 1867, she was named honorary secretary of the Manchester Committee for Women's Suffrage and was instrumental in rewriting its constitution as the Manchester National Society for Women's Suffrage. In 1868 she became treasurer of the Married Women's Property Committee. She travelled about the country organising meetings and support for the issue throughout the 1860s and was involved in the campaign to have women ratepayers included on the electoral register. She worked alongside Jacob Bright as the parliamentary agent of the National Society for Women's Suffrage to have the amendment to the Municipal Franchise Bill passed in 1869 so that this could be achieved at a local, if not a national, level. However, her efforts were not restricted to suffrage. In 1870, she was the first woman to be elected to the Manchester School Board, she was also the founder-editor of the 'Woman's Suffrage Journal' in 1870. In the 1870s she was active in the campaign to have the Contagious Diseases Acts repealed and worked beside Josephine Butler and Elizabeth Wolstenholme in the Vigilance Association for the Defence of Personal Rights. She organised a significant repeal meeting in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, 1870 with JB, Elizabeth Wolstenholme and James Stuart. She also served on the LNA Executive Committee between 1872-1873. She introduced the first motion against Bruce's Bill at the Conference of Repeal Organisations, 29 Feb 1872. However, parliamentary developments in 1874 led many to believe that the vote might be granted to single though not married women. Becker pragmatically supported this as an interim measure, leading to criticism from the Pankhursts, the Brights and Wolstenholme Elmy. In the later part of that decade she was secretary to the Central Committee of the National Society for Women's Suffrage and remained with it when the London societies divided over opposition to the CD Acts in 1888. However, her health began to deteriorate and she withdrew from active work in 1889 and travelled to Aix-les-Bains to recuperate. On the 21 Jul 1890 she died in Geneva, Switzerland having contracted diphtheria.
The archive consists of Lydia Becker's notebooks, articles by and concerning her, book manuscripts, copies of her letters written out by her sister, lock of hair, notebook of obituaries, biography; two folders of genealogical materials on the Becker family, Becker family diary, notebooks on Leigh family pedigree and German relatives, invoices, receipts and bills, folder of family papers, copies of family tomb inscriptions, wallet containing property administration papers, photographs, probate documents; letters to and from Lydia Becker; LEB's draft will, death certificate, receipt for burial, family suffrage organisation papers concerning her death; Becker family letters.
7LEB consists of notebooks and publications; and genealogical material.
At some point during the 1970s a large number of letters were removed from the collection and are now in The Women's Library, Autograph Letter Collection volume 28. Volume 28 part A (ref 9/28/A) contains letters to and from Lydia Becker; part B (ref 9/28/B) contains family letters.
This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.
The papers on Lydia E Becker and the Beckers were loaned to the Fawcett Library in 1969 by WTL Becker, with the papers passing to the Library as a bequest upon his death.
The papers on Lydia E Becker and the Becker Family were donated to the Fawcett Library in 1969 by Miss Becker's nephew Mr WTL Becker of Jersey. At some point during the 1970s a large number of letters were removed from the Becker collection (ref. 7LEB) and placed in the Autograph Letter Collection, volume 28 (ref. 9/28) which are available on microfiche.
At some point during the 1970s a large number of letters were removed from the collection and are now in The Women's Library, Autograph Letter Collection volume 28. Volume 28 part A (ref 9/28/A) contains letters to and from Lydia Becker; part B (ref 9/28/B) contains family letters.
Also held at The Women's Library is the volume of the Manchester National Society for Women's Suffrage (ref. 2MNS).
Manchester Archives and Local Studies holds Lydia Becker's correspondence as secretary of Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage (1867-1890), reference M50/1.
Fawcett Library Catalogue.
By Lydia Becker
By LEB (Lydia Becker)
An article by Lydia Becker reprinted from the 'Contemporary Review'
Including appointments, memoranda etc.
By Lydia Becker
Extracts from Lydia Becker writings [on Millennium: duplicate to Printed collections?]
Apparently complete manuscript of Lydia Beckers's unpublished manuscript
An article on Lydia Becker
Obituaries of Lydia Becker, and later articles on her career
The last issue commemorating Lydia Becker's death [on Millennium: duplicate to Printed collections?]
A memorial to Lydia Becker
Poor condition. Mounting card yellowed and dirty, abrasions at corners and right edge, a large obvious crease down the centre of the photograph and card. Production method: carbon print.
Black and white photograph of a model woman, wearing an ankle length skirt and buttoned blouse, riding a three-wheeled cycle. She is riding in a standing position. The cycle has two very large wheels, and one much smaller wheel at the front. The model is outside a window, in a garden, probably a set. Pasted onto buff coloured mounting card with printed text extracts from the press on the reverse.
Copies of letters by Lydia Becker written by her sister Esther Becker (d.1922), including a memorial of Lydia Becker and a lock of her hair.
Creased in places, with a fold line down the centre, paper yellowed, some foxing bottom quarter, and patches of discolouration from damp and mould. Production method: hand drawn on paper.
Pencil drawing of what seems to be a fortified house with two round towers and a boundary wall, drawn on cream paper, with a manuscript note underneath, and pasted onto the first page in the notebook. The drawing is possibly by Lydia Becker.
The same house is featured in 7LEB/1/12/1/2 on the opposite page.
Poor condition. Foxing all over, expecially towards the edges. Dirt and abrasions to the surface along the top and bottom edges. Creased in a number of places. Black writing ink has faded to brown. Production method : Block printed from an etching or engraving, on paper.
Print of an etching, in black, on white paper. The view is of a hilly, wooded landscape with a town in the valley. In the centre, on a hill, is what seems to be a fortified house, with two round towers. There is a manuscript note (in ink) on the white border underneath the print, and a pencil note along the bottom edge, very tiny and now illegible. Pasted onto the second page in the notebook.
The fortified house is the one illustrated in 7LEB/1/12/1/1
By M Holmes. Inside is a bill for Manchester National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies 50th anniversary
Genealogical material on the Beckers and their family connections (Wroe, Duncroft, Leigh etc): pedigrees, family trees, legal documents etc.
Paper yellowed, creased, bottom edge torn. Some dirty marks along the edges. Production method : hand drawn in ink on paper. Temporary location : Martin Lello. 14 Nov 00. Cknight. Returned 28 Nov 00 [photographed]
Hand drawn illustrations in black showing the development of a ladies bonnet through the nineteenth century. Sixteen individual drawings of hats in three rows, some on the wearer's head and some alone, fourteen in profile, two from the front, showing the change in the style of hats ending with a hat of 1870. Each drawing has a manuscript explanation caption (transcribed below). On a piece of cream paper, with a fold line down the centre. [Probably drawn by Lydia Becker.]
Notebook containing notes by Hannibal Leigh Becker
Of Mr John Leigh dated 1770 and 1797
Concerning Lydia Becker's brothers Arthur and Ernest Becker.
Parts of letters, obituaries, financial papers
Notebook containing notes on various members of the Becker family in Germany
Yellowed slightly, abrasions to corners of mounting card, some small shiny spots on the surface. Production method : albumen print.
Carte-de-visite of a black and white studio portrait of a man with round spectacle and a beard, standing with arms folded, wearing a knee length dark coat and trousers, and white shirt. Against a dark background. The image is darker around the edges. Mounted on cream card, with a manuscript note on the reverse.
Note: between pages in the notebook (on the Becker family), with text on Fritz Becker. There seems to be no mention of the subject in the text. Also, 7LEB/2/1/6, a family tree, mentions an Edward Becker, born 31 May 1845, died 31 Jan 1864.
Wallet-notebook of notes on the administration of property belonging to Mrs C Walmsley
Set of 13 photographs, probably belonging to Lydia Becker. Including American Club of Bohemian Ladies at Prague, embroidery designs, Queen Victoria (with quotation from Swinburn).
The catalogue lists the file as a set of 23 photographs, but as at 9 Aug 2000 there were only 13 present. A note in the folder dated 19 Apr 1989 stated that 13 photographs were removed for conservation [they were possibly incorporated into the Museum Photograph collection].
Poor condition. Card yellowed, dirty at edges, surface scratched, a number of dark grey markings (possibly ink) left corner, top right quarter. Production method: gelatin silver print.
Cabinet card of a black and white photograph of an ornate handkerchief. The handkerchief is of white fabric with a lace trim, and a border of intricate dark embroidery, asymmetrical, of stylised exotic flowers and leaves. The handkerchief is laid out on a surface, photographed from above, with a manuscript label in the centre. Brownish yellow in tone, with a glossy finish, on white card with rounded corners, leaving a white border on the front. The print seems to have been cut and stuck onto the card, leaving slightly uneven edges.
7LEB/2/11/3; 7LEB/2/11/5-8
Poor condition. Card yellowed, dirty at edges, surface scratched, a number of dark grey markings (possibly ink) left and right, some mirroring. Production method: gelatin silver print.
Cabinet card of a black and white photograph of an ornate handkerchief. The handkerchief is of white fabric, with a very stylised design of exotic flowers all over, with areas where the fabric has been cut away and replaced by lace. All within a scalloped border. The handkerchief is laid out on a surface, photographed from above, with a manuscript label at the top. Brownish in tone, with a glossy finish, on white card with rounded corners, leaving a white border on the front. The print seems to have been cut and stuck onto the card, leaving slightly uneven edges.
7LEB/2/11/2; 7LEB/2/11/5-8
Poor condition. Yellowed, mirroring left, right and bottom, surface scratched, mounting card dirty, crease bottom centre. A number of markings (possibly pencil) on the photograph. Production method : gelatin silver print.
Black and white photograph of a Roman mosaic floor being excavated. The majority of the mosaic is clearly visible, with plank walkways around it, and two men with beards standing at the far end. One is wearing a top hat, the other a bowler hat. Mounted on grey card.
Poor condition. Faded, yellowed, mirroring bottom right, a number of dark grey or black markings (possibly ink) all over, especially bottom right quarter. Scratches to surface. production method : albumen print.
Cabinet card of a black and white photograph of ornate embroidery designs and lace, on four pieces of white fabric. The pieces are laid out in two pairs on a surface and photographed from above, with a manuscript label pinned to each pair. Brownish yellow in tone, with a glossy finish, on white card with rounded corners, leaving a white border on the front. The print seems to have been cut by hand and stuck onto the card, leaving slightly uneven edges.
7LEB/2/11/2-3; 7LEB/2/11/6-8
Yellowed, faded, scratches to the surface. A narrow section in the centre has lifted off the mounting, or warped, where the text is pasted onto the reverse. Production method: albumen print.
Cabinet card of a black and white photograph of ornate embroidery designs on fourteen small sample pieces of fabric. The pieces are laid out on a surface and photographed from above, with a manuscript label in the bottom left portion of the picture. Brownish yellow in tone, with a glossy finish, mounted on white card with rounded corners, leaving a white border on the front. The print has been cut down by hand and stuck onto the card, leaving slightly uneven edges. On the reverse is pasted a line of text, possibly cut out of a publication.
7LEB/2/11/2, 7LEB/2/11/3, 7LEB/2/11/5 , 7LEB/2/11/7, 7LEB/2/11/8
Retained its original colour. Surface has light scratches all over. Small white spots around the edges, and dark spots on the light areas. Production method: albumen print.
Cabinet card of a black and white photograph of examples of embroidery work, on three items laid on a surface and photographed from above. They include a white blouse with pointed collar and sleeves gathered at the cuffs, a black cap with white lace decoration, and a large ornate handkerchief. Each has a manuscript label which read backwards, as the image appears to have been printed in reverse. Mounted on white card with rounded corners, leaving a white border on the front. The print has been cut down by hand and stuck onto the card, leaving slightly uneven edges.
Note: probably belonged to Lydia Becker.
7LEB/2/11/2-3; 7LEB/2/11/5-6; 7LEB/2/11/8
Poor condition. Retained its original colour, slightly faded, surface lightly scratches all over, small white and silvery spots around the edge, and dark spots on the light areas. In the top right quarter are two small areas of markings: white chalky deposits, a brown adhesive-like mark and pink marks. Mounting edge dirty. Slight repair needed. Production method: albumen print
Cabinet card of a black and white photograph of an ornate handkerchief. The handkerchief is of white fabric, with a very stylised design of exotic flowers and a deep scalloped border, also incorporating the lowers and leaves. In some areas the fabric has been cut away and replaced by lace, to comprise part of the design. The handkerchief is laid out on a surface, photographed from above, with a manuscript label on the left (which reads backwards as the image has been printed in reverse). Mounted on white card with rounded corners, leaving a white border on the front. The print seems to have been cut by hand and stuck onto the card, leaving slightly uneven edges.
7LEB/2/11/2-3, 7LEB/2/11/5-7
Yellowed, scratches to surface, small dull patches centre top (possibly slight mould growth), two small patches of white chalky deposit bottom right quarter, black ink flecks bottom left. Production method : albumen print, coloured by hand with watercolour, given a glossy varnish. Temporary location : Martin Lello. 14 Nov 00. Cknight. Returned 28 Nov 00. [photographed?]
Albumen print of an interior, probably intended as a postcard, which has been coloured by hand with a glossy finish, mounted on white card. The scene is of a large high ceilinged library, and six women, all in Victorian dress, sitting at tables and looking at books on the shelves. The carpet is pink (the largest area of colour). Much of the rest of the image is cream or beige, with the books and women's clothes in various colours.
A larger version of the same print as 7LEB/2/11/13
Poor condition. Yellowed, layers of paper splitting apart bottom right, abrasions all edges. Dirty marks bottom quarter. Dull patches (possibly from damp) top left quarter. Slight brown discolouration bottom left quarter. Scratches and grey markings top right quarter. Production method: block printed from an etching.
Etching print in black on thick cream card, with a glossy finish. The image is of the riverside at Frankfurt, with a cathedral, the city and a bridge in the distance, a street with people promenading on the left, and the river with boats to the right. The card has been cut down leaving very rough edges.
Poor condition. Yellowed, top right corner missing, mirroring bottom left and right edges. Surface dirty with black and grey smudges and markings, scratching and abrasions. Slight repair needed. Production method : mechanically printed from a photograph.
Production place : Germany.
Postcard of a black and white photograph of a marketplace in Leipzig, taken from high up. The square is surrounded by high buildings, townhouses and shops, street cafes with tables and parasols. With a border of cream card, with captions (sideways on to the image). The reverse is completely blank.
Poor condition. Yellowed, very faded. Scratching and abrasions to the surface, small black ink flecks, dirty marks top right, right edge and bottom in particular. Production method : Albumen print.
Cabinet card, of an albumen print portrait photograph of Queen Victoria, in later years, wearing a small crown, diamond necklace and sash, upper body only. Faded brownish yellow in tone, on cream paper, mounted on buff coloured card, with rounded corners. On the reverse is a manuscript message.
Yellowed, small patches of chalky white deposit bottom left quarter, top centre. Production method: albumen print, hand painted with watercolour, given a glossy varnish.
Albumen print of an interior, probably intended as a postcard, which has been coloured by hand with a glossy finish, mounted on white card. The scene is of a large high ceilinged library, and six women, all in Victorian dress, sitting at tables and looking at books on the shelves. The carpet is pink (the largest area of colour). Much of the rest of the image is cream or beige, with the books and women's clothes in various colours.
A smaller version of the same print as 7LEB/2/11/9.
Relating to Becker family members