Actresses in the Pageant of Women's Trades and Professions

Professional actresses participating in the Pageant of Women's Trades and Professions, 27th April 1909. The Pageant was organised as part of the International Woman Suffrage Conference that place in London between 26th and 27th April 1909. The Conference included delegates from over 20 nationalities, the English representation being led by Millicent Fawcett. The pageant of 'voteless' professions and tradeswomen took place on the evening of Tuesday 27th April and comprised contingents carrying emblems symbolic of their work marching for over half an hour into the Albert Hall to join the Conference delegates. Several of the actresses in this image can be seen carrying pennants painted with theatrical comic masques. As reported in the The Votes for Women newspaper the following week that 'From the women doctors in their blazing scarlet hoods, to the pitbrow women in their shawls, every branch of women's work was represented' in the Pageant.