Papers of Dorothy Foster Place

The archive consists of a typescript autobiography, covering the years 1886-1975. The typescript is a transcript of a tape recording dictated by Dorothy Foster Place to her four children. The autobiography includes accounts of her early life and education in New Brighton; her studies in Chemistry at the University of Liverpool and King's College, London; her studies in Agriculture at Studley Agricultural College, Warwickshire; her agricultural work during the First World War and eventually work on her own farm in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. It covers her interest and activities in the suffrage movement; her marriage; the birth of her children and her extensive holiday travels in Europe and North Africa.

Dorothy Foster Place (1886-1976) [née Abraham] was born in 1886 at Lancaster Avenue in Liverpool. She spent her early childhood in New Brighton, the Wirral. She was initially educated at home by governesses, until 1898 when she went to Wallasey High School, followed by Skipton Girls' High School in 1900. In 1904 she enrolled at the University of Liverpool where she studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics - moving on to King's College in London after her father's decision that she should take the examinations of the Institute of Chemistry there. During this period she shared her mother's interest in the women's suffrage movement and both women joined the Women's Social & Political Union (WSPU). Dorothy was arrested and sent to Holloway Prison after taking part in a window smashing incident at Harrods, but was freed at her trial on grounds of insufficient evidence. After failing her Chemistry examination she went to Studley Agricultural College. During the First World War she worked on various farms until her father bought her her own farm in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. Here she met and married Tom Place with whom she had four children: Ullin, Dorothy, David and Milner. She took great pleasure in extensive holidays in Europe and North Africa. Dorothy Foster Place died in 1976.

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Deposited with the Fawcett Library in Nov 1998 by Deirdre M Smyth.

Fonds Description (1 folder only)