Papers of Amelia Scott

The archive consists of manuscripts and typescripts of books and articles written by Amelia Scott including:

* Periodicals relating to the women's suffrage campaign and other women's issues - inc. Family Welfare Association (Passing of a Great Dread was serialised in three volumes of this periodical), 4 volumes Liberal Woman’s Review.

Pamphlets & Ephemera - inc. National Union of Women Workers, inc Soldiers’ Central Laundry and photographs thereof, National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, National Council of Women, Woman’s Leader and Common Cause

* Minute books - Committee meetings of Working Girls Club (including reports of the Leisure Hour Club), Christian Social Union, and Christian Social Crusade.

* Speeches - for election campaigns, on women's suffrage

* Papers relating to her work in Tunbridge Wells including material relating standing for election in Tunbridge Wells and election as a guardian for Tonbridge Union, and papers concerning a number of welfare projects she was involved in including the establishment of a Maternity Home and various housing projects.

* Personal and family papers including publications belonging to Amelia Scott, inc. her father’s will, general papers and family photographs.

* Correspondence - approximately 150 letters to Amelia Scott; including photocopies of some originals from well-known individuals which were auctioned for charity, correspondents include Eleanor Rathbone and Beatrice Webb. Also letters to Amelia's sister Louise.

* Objects consist of a decoration and presentation book concerning her work during the First World War and the assisting of Belgian refugees and a bag with Kentish Pilgrims Way and red, white and green ribbons sewn on.

Amelia (Millie) Scott (1860-1952) was born to Syms Scott and Ellen Nicholls on 16 Jan 1860. She spent much of her later childhood living with her aunt, and grandmother (both called Amelia Nicholls) following the death of her father in 1870, as her mother was unable to support six children. Amelia Scott and her three sisters all remained unmarried and Amelia and her sister Louise lived together in Tunbridge Wells for many years. Their background was one of a middle class family who were not quite as affluent as they once had been. Amelia Scott was involved in several organisations such as the Tunbridge Wells branch of the National Council of Women (originally called the National Union of Women Workers), which she established in May 1895. She was a member of this organisation for thirty-five years, serving as its honorary secretary. She worked as Treasurer for the Tunbridge Wells branch of the Women Citizens' Association and as an honorary secretary and Chair for the Leisure Hours Club - an association set up for working girls. She was also involved with the Tunbridge Wells branch of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, serving as vice president, and the Christian Social Union. Between 1918-1924 Amelia served on the Legal sub committee of the National Council for the Unmarried Mother and her Child. She also served on the Provisional Executive Committee of this organisation by representing the National Council of Women. Amelia Scott was also a Poor Law Guardian for many years, Chair of the Infant Life Protection Committee, Member of the Kent County Mental Deficiency Committee and Director of the Women's Common Lodging House Company, Tunbridge Wells. Amelia Scott was the author of 'Women of Sacred History', a study concerned with the women of the bible and 'Passing of a Great Dread', a history of the poor law as well as writing a number of articles, pamphlets and speeches for the organisations she was involved in. She died in 1952.

The papers had been stored in a garage before transfer to the archive and there was no apparent order to them. Therefore the papers have been arranged into five sub fonds relating to different aspects of Amelia Scott's life but do not reflect original order. The sub-fonds are:

a) Writings

b) Involvement with organisations

c) Work in the community

d) Interest in women's issues

e) Personal papers

There are also two 'stand-alone' series of Family Papers and Correspondence

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

The papers were acquired by The Women's Library from Helen Boyce, a distant cousin of Amelia Scott, as a gift, 23 Apr 2002.

The Women's Library Catalogue

The papers are in a fairly good state of repair. Some spotting has occurred, as the papers were originally stored in a garage.

The donors' mother, who was Amelia Scott's second cousin and goddaughter, inherited the papers in 1952.

The Women's Library holds the papers of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (2NWS) and National Council for One Parent Families (5OPF)