Catalogue description Records of the Tax Resistance League

This record is held by London University: London School of Economics, The Women's Library

Details of 2/WTR
Reference: 2/WTR
Title: Records of the Tax Resistance League
Description:

Annual reports, leaflets and pamphlets.

Date: 1909-1919
Related material:

The files of the London Society for Women's Suffrage contain correspondence with the Tax Resistance League: see GB 0106 2/LSW.

Held by: London University: London School of Economics, The Women's Library, not available at The National Archives
Language: English
Creator:

Tax Resistance League

Physical description: 0.5 box
Access conditions:

This collection is open for consultation. Intending readers are advise to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Subjects:
  • Women's suffrage
  • Women's organisations
Unpublished finding aids:

Handlist.

Administrative / biographical background:

The Tax Resistance League was established in 1909 with the aim of organising female resistance to taxation levied without any correspondent representation through voting rights. The organisation carried on a form of protest that dated back to 1870 when the Priestman sisters refused to pay income tax. The foundation occurred at a meeting held by Louisa Garrett Anderson that was attended by supporters of the Women's Freedom League including Cicely Hamilton and Dr Kate Aslam. By July 1910 the League had 104 members. Those who followed its principles, and whose actions extended to refusing to pay for certain types of licences, Inhabited House Duty, dog licenses, servants licences, etc were liable to have goods seized or be put in prison. House clearances by bailiffs were used as an opportunity to hold open-air suffrage meetings and the group was also involved in resistance to the census in 1911. The League held meetings in the premises of both the National Union for Women's Suffrage Societies and the Women's Social and Political Union, but overtures to many local organisations were refused due to opposition to the illegality of their actions. It held conferences in 1911 and 1912 and became part of the Federated Council of Women's Suffrage in 1912. At the outbreak of the First World War, an urgency committee ordered that the League's activities be suspended and a subsequent meeting of members confirmed this resolution, though the resolution was only passed by one vote. No more meetings were held until 1916 when they took part in the Consultative Committee of Constitutional Women's Suffrage Societies established by the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies in response to the government proposed changes to the national electoral register at the end of the war. A final meeting was held in 1918 after the vote was granted to women in order to officially wind up the organisation and dispose of its assets.

Link to NRA Record:

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