Imperialist women in Edwardian Britain : the Victoria League, 1899-1914
This thesis, based on private papers, society records, autobiographies and memoirs, newspapers and periodicals, examines one mainly female imperialist organisation - the Victoria League - and the women who ran it. It considers two related questions - what made Edwardian women imperialist, and how, within the limits of Edwardian society, could they express their imperialism? The thesis shows that several of the League's founders and executive had visited South Africa during or shortly before the Boer War, and that this experience, particularly for those who came into close contact with Milner, was pivotal in stimulating them to active imperialism. The Victoria League, founded April 1901, aimed to promote imperial unity and a British South Africa in a variety of suitably 'womanly' ways: Boer War charities, imperial education, exporting literature and art to the white dominions (particularly the Transvaal), welcoming colonial visitors to Britain, arranging for the welcome of British settlers in the colonies, and promoting social reform as an imperial issue. It worked overseas through a number of independent Victoria Leagues in Australasia, the Imperial Order, Daughters of the Empire in Canada, and the Guild of
Riedi, Elizabeth L.
DA570.R5 ; t Britain--Foreign relations--1901-1936 ; Great Britain--History--Edward VII, 1901-1910
Imperialist women in Edwardian Britain : the Victoria League, 1899-1914. This thesis, based on private papers, society records, autobiographies and memoirs, newspapers and periodicals, examines one mainly female imperialist organisation - the Victoria League - and the women who ran it. It considers two related questions - what made Edwardian women imperialist, and how, within the limits of Edwardian society, could they express their imperialism? The thesis shows that several of the League's founders and executive had visited South Africa during or shortly before the Boer War, and that this experience, particularly for those who came into close contact with Milner, was pivotal in stimulating them to active imperialism. The Victoria League, founded April 1901, aimed to promote imperial unity and a British South Africa in a variety of suitably 'womanly' ways: Boer War charities, imperial education, exporting literature and art to the white dominions (particularly the Transvaal), welcoming colonial visitors to Britain, arranging for the welcome of British settlers in the colonies, and promoting social reform as an imperial issue. It worked overseas through a number of independent Victoria Leagues in Australasia, the Imperial Order, Daughters of the Empire in Canada, and the Guild of
imperialist woman edwardian_britain league base private_paper society record autobiography memoirs newspaper periodical examine mainly female imperialist organisation league woman run considers two_related question make edwardian woman imperialist within limit edwardian society could express imperialism show several league founder executive visit south_africa shortly war experience particularly come close contact pivotal stimulate active imperialism league found aim_promote imperial unity british south_africa variety suitably way war charity imperial education export literature art white dominion particularly welcome colonial visitor britain arrange welcome british settler colony promote social_reform imperial issue work overseas number independent imperial order empire canada guild