Millicent Fawcett’s ‘Steadfastness and Courage’ brooch to go on permanent display for the first time

A unique brooch that belonged to Millicent Fawcett, President of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (1890 – 1919) will go on permanent display for the first time this week at the Museum of London.

The brooch, on long-term loan from the Fawcett Society, is highly symbolic and represents the long struggle for women’s right to vote in parliamentary elections that dominated politics in the early 20th century. The gold and enamel piece made specifically for Millicent as a gift from loyal members of the NUWSS to their inspirational leader, includes gems in the white, red and green colour scheme of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. On the reverse, is the message ‘Steadfastness and Courage’, a direct reference to a speech made by Millicent in 1913.

Millicent spent her life campaigning for women’s suffrage and equal rights. At the age of 19, she organised signatures for the first petition for women’s suffrage even though she was too young to sign it herself. Between 1907 and 1919 Millicent was President of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (the NUWSS) from 1907 -19, the largest non-militant suffrage campaign group. Her ’steadfastness and courage’ in the long struggle for the female suffrage played a key role in securing the first extension of voting rights to women in 1918. The commissioning of the brooch was the initiative of the London Society of the NUWSS with contributions from members and branches nationwide.

Fawcett Society Chief Executive, Sam Smethers, said: ‘Millicent Fawcett was awarded this brooch for steadfastness and courage in 1913. She built a movement of tens of thousands of people over more than 60 years of campaigning. That suffrage history belongs to all of us. We are delighted that this unique item will now be on display for thousands more to see it in it's fantastic new home at the Museum of London.’

Millicent regularly wore the brooch, often as a pendant and it is included on the statue of her by the artist Gillian Wearing unveiled in Parliament Square in April 2018. The brooch also featured on a commemorative edition of the popular programme Antiques Roadshow that marked the centenary of partial female suffrage and was on temporary display at the Women’s Library in both 2016 and 2018. This will be the first time it is on permanent display.

Visitors can see the brooch from 13 March in the People’s City Gallery at the Museum of London.

For more press information please contact Emily Brazee, Media Officer at the Museum of London on 020 7814 5502 / 07713565805 or [email protected].

The Museum of London tells the ever-changing story of this great world city and its people, from 450,000 BC to the present day. Our galleries, exhibitions, displays and activities seek to inspire a passion for London and provide a sense of the vibrancy that makes the city such a unique place.

The Museum of London has one of the most complete permanent displays commemorating the Votes for Women movement.

The museum is open daily 10am – 6pm and is FREE to all, and you can explore the Museum of London with collections online – home to 90,000 objects with more being added. www.museumoflondon.org.uk.

The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights at work, at home and in public life. Our vision is of a society in which women and girls in all their diversity are equal and truly free to fulfil their potential. www.fawcettsociety.org.uk

For information about the Fawcett Society, please contact:

Fresh Communication, 0117 369 0025

Nathalie Golden: [email protected] / 07769 66 66 27

Lisa Sutherland: [email protected] / 07801 97 99 87