https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/a56abe5367deba1131ca794dbc60feb6.JPG fd9e31aa8feba6752aa66f79fd519e0e Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Mother Ruth and daughter Theodora, circa 1913. Source: Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic, 2 August, 1913. https://map.mappingwomenssuffrage.org.uk/files/original/0423b89f5ad80c6b8af0697bfa2d64c1.jpg 197f91d08e90230d7c9a20a16c878d9b Person (Campaigner) A record of a person related to the Mapping Women's Suffrage project Occupation Private means Age The age of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census 67 & 37 Marital Status The marital status of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Widowed & Single Address The address of this person at the time of the 1911 UK Census Lowmandale (59) Leckhampton Road, Cheltenham Suffrage Society The suffrage society this person was affiliated with at the time of the 1911 UK Census NUWSS Census This person's response to the 1911 UK Census Resists Biographical Text Mother and daughter, Ruth and Theodora Mills, claimed to have been interested in the cause long before Theodora became Honorary Secretary of the Cheltenham branch of the law abiding NUWSS in 1902 - a post she retained for the remainder of the society's life time. Ruth and Theodora campaigned in the villages outlying their home in Cheltenham and experienced some rough treatment in so doing. Ruth, a frail woman, had to be rescued by a policeman when the 1913 NUWSS Pilgrimage met a stormy reception. Theodora was involved in deputations, letter-writing and dramatic and musical roles for suffrage social gatherings. She wrote the words to five songs which were included in the WSPU's 1907 Song Sheet and her words set to the tune of 'Onward Christian Soldiers' won an international competition. She took pride in the society's banners and presented one which she used in the June 1908 London demonstration, to what is now the Wilson Museum in the town. In a local test case of 1909, Ruth and Theodora with six others, claimed a parliamentary vote: this was largely a WFL initiative and, somewhat unusually in a time of greater differentiation between suffragists and suffragettes, both Mills ladies were still on the WFL committee before its local leader, Florence Earengey, decided to break ties with other societies. Their census resistance in 1911 was also unusual among local NUWSS members. Generally, NUWSS members as law abiding suffragists, complied with the census. Ruth Mills wrote across the form 'I did not pass the night of April 2nd, 1911 in this dwelling nor arrived during Monday morning. House being locked and left empty. and do not know how many if any persons did so.' Mother and daughter continued to live in the family house with Theodora often writing letters to the local press, either about the history of women's suffrage or about her vegetarian beliefs. Ruth Mills died in 1922 and Theodora in 1958. Researched and contributed by Sue Jones author of 'Votes for Women: Cheltenham and the Cotswolds' (The History Press, 2018). Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ruth and Theodora Mills Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant ||||osm POINT(-231290.62105931365 6778474.565344941) NUWSS