Letter from Florence Underwood to the Secretary, 29 November 1915 Letters 1916-1923 Florence Underwood

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Letter from Florence Underwood to Hanna Sheehy Skeffington (1977-1946) inquiring whether Skeffington's organisation would be interested in collaborating in a meeting with various suffrage organisations. Florence Underwood was the secretary to the Women's Freedom League. Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, suffragette, nationalist, language teacher, was the founder of the Irish Women’s Franchise League and a founding member of the Irish Women Workers’ Union. She was the widow of Francis Sheehy-Skeffington who was summarily executed on 26 April 1916. She was active during the Rising, bringing food to the Volunteers in the G.P.O. and the College of Surgeons. Four days passed before she found out what had happened to her husband, Francis (1878-1916), and it wasn't until almost two weeks later that the full details of his execution emerged.

National Library of Ireland Sheehy-Skeffington Papers, Collection List No. 47; MS 33,604/13-18 https://letters1916.ie/item/3744 English Florence Underwood 1915-11-29 144 High Holborn, London, England Hanna Sheehy Skeffington Female Politics Country and City Life

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 Votes for Women. Women's Freedom League. Weekly Paper: THE VOTE. President: Mrs. DESPARD.Hon. Treasurer: Dr. ELIZABETH KNIGHT.Hon. Organisinig. Sec.: Miss EUNICE MURRAY.Head of Political & Militant Dept.: Miss. C. NINA BOYLE.Secretary: Miss F. A. UNDERWOOD. Telephone: Museum 1429.Telegrams: Despaard, Museum 1429, London.:Colourrs: Green, Gold & White. Offices: 114 High HolbornW.C. 29th November, 1915 Dear Madam, We feel that now is the time for an importantrally of suffragists of all suffragist societies to make anuncompromising demand for Votes for Women. Would yourSociety be willing to take part with us in such a meeting?We think that Sunday afternoon, December 12th or December 19thwould be the best dates, and we find that we can get thelarge Portman Rooms on both these days. We in no way wishthis to interfere with the Albert Hall meeting which it hasalready been proposed to run in February, but we are con—vinced that an earlier meeting is necessary at the presentcrisis Will you kindly let me know, tomorrow by telephone,if possible, so that we can get a notice into the varioussuffrage papers this week:(a) if your society would join in this meeting.(b) which date you consider most suitable, the 12th ot19th pr ox.(c) if you will send a representative to a meeting atthis office Saturday morning, December 4th at11 o'clock, to confer with us as to how theexpenses of this meeting, and any of its profitsshould be shared amongst the Societies taking partin it, how best to make the meeting known amongstall suffragists, and who are to be the speakers.We also should agree on a resolution to be put tothe meeting. Awaiting the favour of your reply,I am,Yours faithfully, Florence A. Underwood. 144 High Holborn, London, England Letter from Florence Underwood to the Secretary, 29 November 1915 Florence Underwood Letter from Florence Underwood to the Secretary, 29 November 1915