Members of the Women's Freedom League at the Green, Gold & White Fair

Leading members of the Women's Freedom League at the Green, Gold and White Fair, c.1909. In the centre, seated is Charlotte Despard (1844-1939), President of the Women's Freedom League wearing her trademark black mantilla veil. Behind her carrying papers is Teresa Billington-Greig, Organising Secretary of the WFL. This was one in a series of portraits of leading members of the Women's Freedom League taken by Christina Broom during a Green, Gold and White Fair organised by the WFL. The Fairs, that became a regular feature of the League's campaign were named after the colour scheme of the WFL and were primarily fund-raising and propaganda events. The first Fair was held between 15th and 17th April 1909 at Caxton Hall which became the regular venue of the Fairs that continued even during World War I.  It is possible that this series of posed portraits by Broom were taken in the courtyard of Caxton Hall during the first Fair of 1909. This Fair included a programme of theatrical entertainments organised by the Actresses' Franchise League and a number of side shows including a display of Cicely Hamilton's waxworks, a gypsy tent, several palmists and craftswomen at work. The first day of the three day fair was opened by the actress Ellen Terry. The WFL was a militant suffrage organisation founded in 1907 by women who broke away from the Women's Social and Political Union as a result of policy differences with the Pankhursts. The WFL encouraged its members to take part in non-violent militancy, such as evading the Census of 1911 and refusing to pay taxes until women were given the vote.