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

A member of the Women's Freedom League with her children at the Green, Gold & White Fair, c.1909. This was one in a series of portraits of leading members of the Women's Freedom League taken by Christina Broom during the 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 tableux of Famous Women of History arranged by Edith Craig, a gypsy tent, several palmists and craftswomen at work. The first day of the three day fair was opened by the actress Ellen Terry who, similarly to other women at the event was dressed in 15th century costume to represent a time when 'women were free and equal with the tyrant man'. Also performing at the event was the singer Marie Lloyd.The image depicts the two youngest children wear sashes in the gold, green and white colour scheme of the WFL. It is likely that the floral rossettes and hair decorations worn by the girls and their Mother are also in the WFL colours.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.