Surveillance image of Margaret Paterson

Surveillance image of the Suffragette prisoner Margaret Paterson exercising in the yard of Holloway Gaol. Margaret Paterson was an alias name used by Mary Phillips. The Home Office commissioned the undercover photography of militant suffragettes from 1913. These photos were used to identify women attempting to enter public buildings such as museums and art galleries.

In October 1913 'Margret Paterson' was one of 9 women and 2 men arrested during scuffles with the police as they attempted to re-arrest Annie Kenney as she delivered a speech on the stage of the London Pavilion. For attempting to prevent the rearrest Margaret received a sentence of 20 days in Holloway. In February 1914 Margaret was found guilty of obstruction during a scuffle with police that followed the rearrest of Sylvia Pankhurst as she attempted to join members of the East London Federation of Suffragettes for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square. Incensed by Syvlia's rearrest Margaret held aloft a flag and led a group of Suffragettes from Trafalgar Square to Whitehall where they clashed with mounted police. Sentenced to 2 weeks imprisonment or a fine of 40 shillings her fine was paid anonymously and she was discharged.