Every year, historical documents relating to the development of Sheffield are deposited at Sheffield Archives and Local Studies Library. Sheffield Archives recently received an interesting
collection of records belonging to the Fulwood Afternoon Townswomen’s Guild,
including a complete run of minutes, 1959 - 2008, attendance registers, 1959 -
2008, and a scrapbook, 1988 - 2003, documenting the various activities of the Guild
over the course of some 50 years.
The Fulwood Afternoon Townswomen's Guild was a local branch of a national
organisation, the Townswomen's Guild (dating back to 1929), which had its
origins in the 'suffragist' movement. The Townswomen's Guild was established in
the wake of the enfranchisement of women and out of a drive to establish an
organisation aimed at ordinary women living in the nation's towns and cities
where members could meet regularly to advance their education and citizenship,
develop new skills, exchange ideas, discuss topical issues and organise
charitable events.
The Fulwood Guild was just one of many local Townswomen’s
Guilds in Sheffield which were affiliated to the Sheffield Cutler Federation of
Townswomen's Guilds (presided over by the Mistress Cutler) in the second half
of the 20th century. The first Sheffield Guild (Crosspool) was
formed in 1939.The Fulwood Guild established various sub-sections including 'Drama', 'Arts and Crafts', 'Social Studies', 'Music' and 'Bridge' sections, and organised a range of social and recreational activities, outings, guest speakers, coffee mornings, charitable events, etc., for its members, which are all documented in the collection of records (Sheffield Archives ref: X651). The records provide a colourful insight into the social, recreational, educational and charitable activities of a group of local women in suburban Sheffield over the course of half a century.
