Out Gallivanting: ‘Women, War and the West End’ exhibition launch, 2 November

On Friday 2 November I was lucky enough to attend the launch of the exhibition ‘Women, War and the West End‘ at Hillhead Library.

(as you all know already I’m not the best photographer!!

This project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to ‘engage, explore, learn and understand the roles in which women were instrumental during and after World War One (WW1)’. It is run in partnership with the Four Acres Charitable TrustFriends of Glasgow West and The Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities.

This exhibition is curated by Karen Mailley-Watt who is completing her doctoral studies at the University of Glasgow, and is also one half of the dynamic duo the ‘History Girls Frae Scotland‘ with Rachael Purse. Over the last few years Karen and Rachael have done so much to promote women’s history in Scotland and I always look forward to their events. Every time I leave having learned something new about women’s history, having had a good laugh and met interesting people.

You can see what Karen and Rachael recommend in terms of upcoming events, exhibitions etc here (you’ll notice our The New Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women gets a mention!)

https://twitter.com/HistoryGirlsAye/status/1060249124312965120

I was not at all surprised that Karen has put together an excellent and informative exhibition celebrating female business owners, nurses and medics, designers, and other strong willed women of Glasgow’s West End. Visitors also learn about fashion, style and beauty and women’s involvement in sport during the years of the First World War.

In the booklet accompanying the exhibition we learn about the women of the west end who kept the country running and were active in the war effort, both at home and abroad. Karen provides research on artist and designer Mary Evelyn Beale, designer Dorothy Doddrell and Maude Webster who continued to run a successful stained glass business after the death of her husband during the war. In addition Matilda Heydon writes about Dr Louise McIlroy a senior surgeon at two field hospitals with the Scottish Women’s Hospitals; Ana Sanchez-De la Vega gives an account of the life of Agnes Toward whose flat is now the Tenement House museum; Erin Walter discusses the war service of Georgie Fyfe; and our very own Fiona Skillen explores the sporting achievements of Marjory Langmuir. Meanwhile Lucie Whitmore provides an overview of fashion during the First World War with Cassie Ritchie giving an account of wartime hair and beauty.

(Fiona’s panel on Women and Sport – wee bit out of focus)

The exhibition is on at Hillhead Library until the 28th of November before touring around other locations in Glasgow – keep an eye on the Women, War and the West end website for further details.

Valerie Wright (University of Glasgow)

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