A letter of friendship penned by a group of British women to those in Germany and Austria during World War I is to be displayed in Manchester’s Central Library.

The Open Letter, which was signed by 101 women in the winter of 1914/15, will be on display in the library’s Archives+ Centre.

Dr Alison Ronan, from Manchester Metropolitan University, will give a free talk at the Central Library’s performance space, on Thursday 22 January (6 – 7pm).

Dr Ronan will explain the fascinating story of the letter, its historical context and take a closer look at some of the extraordinary women who signed it – especially those who came from Manchester. A short film will also be shown, including archive footage of the first winter of the war.

The letter’s signatories include, Margaret Ashton – Manchester’s first female city councillor, who was elected to serve Withington in 1908, E. Sylvia Pankhurst, the Manchester-born daughter of suffragette movement co-founder Emmeline Pankhurst and Mrs M. K. Gandhi, political activist and the wife of Mahatma Gandhi.

It called for women on both sides of the conflict to hold to the ‘eternal verities’ of love and peace, adding:-

“Though our sons are sent to slay each other and our hearts are torn by the cruelty of this fate, yet through pain supreme we will be true to our common womanhood. We will let no bitterness enter into this tragedy, made sacred by the life-blood of our best, nor mar with hate the heroism of their sacrifice.”

Other digital and paper archive materials relating to this period and the women who signed the open letter will also be on display at the Archives+ Centre.

Dr Ronan said: “At this event, we will remember these amazing women from a century ago who were prepared to stand up for what they believed in, sometimes at great personal cost.”

Margaret Ashton’s belief in pacifism was branded unpatriotic during the war – so much so that in the 1920s, Manchester council refused to hang a portrait of her, which had been commissioned for her 70th birthday by the editor of the Manchester Guardian, C.P. Scott.

However, in 2006, Dr Ronan found the portrait in the Queens Park art depository, Harpurhey and it was then hung by the council to celebrate of the 150th anniversary of Margaret’s birth.

The painting can now be seen in the Conference Hall on the second floor of Manchester Town Hall. Members of the public are free to view it when no official functions are taking place in the room.

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