It’s been 100 years since women gained the right to vote in the United Kingdom. In recognition of this anniversary, our next two episodes focus on three of Britain’s first women Members of Parliament: Lady Nancy Astor, Margaret Wintringham, and Thelma Cazalet-Keir. These women made significant contributions in advancing rights for women and families, as well as sharing a commitment to Christian Science.
In this episode Dr. Mari Takayanagi, Senior Archivist at the Parliamentary Archives in London, describes the challenges and opportunities facing the first generation of women Parliamentarians. Dr. Takayanagi draws from her background as a historian, as well as her doctoral thesis on “Parliament and Women, c.1900 to 1945” and her work as co-curator of “Voice and Vote: Women’s Place in Parliament”—an exhibition at the Houses of Parliament opening June 27, 2018.
In our next episode, coming in July, independent scholar Robin Harragin shares her research on how Christian Science influenced these three women. She’ll discuss her impressions of the exhibition in relation to her scholarship.
Click here to read a 1919 Christian Science Monitor article on Lady Astor’s seating in the House of Commons.
Podcast guest
Dr. Mari Takayanagi
Dr. Mari Takayanagi is a historian and Senior Archivist at the Parliamentary Archives in the UK Houses of Parliament. She is currently joint project manager and co-curator for ‘Voice and Vote: Women’s Place in Parliament’, Parliament’s major public exhibition in summer 2018, celebrating 100 years of the vote for some women and all men.
