Name/TitlePhotograph: Jane Rae
About this objectMounted black & white photograph of Scottish political activist and suffragist Jane Rae (1872 - 1959), taken at Studio Cecil in Glasgow, c.1920 or before.
MakerStudio Cecil
Maker RolePhotographer
Date Madec.1920
Period1910s-1920s
Place MadeScotland, Glasgow
Place NotesStudio Cecil, 152 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
Medium and MaterialsOrganic, paper
Inscription and MarksBottom right, in ink: "Yours sincerely, Jane Rae [signature legible but cropped]
Bottom right, in pencil: "July 1920"
MeasurementsH: 232 x W: 181 mm
Subject and Association Keywordswomen's suffrage, right to vote
Subject and Association KeywordsActivism, rent strikes
Subject and Association KeywordsPeace movement
Subject and Association KeywordsCampaigns against violence against women
Subject and Association Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Rae:
Jane Rae (20 December 1872 – 12 May 1959) was a Scottish political activist, suffragist, councillor and Justice of the peace. She was one of the activists involved in the 1911 all-out strike at the Singer Sewing Machine factory at Kilbowie in Clydebank, Branch Secretary of the Clydebank branch of the Independent Labour Party, and a Labour councillor for Clydebank Town Council.
Rae was born in Denny, Falkirk on 20 December 1872 to Elizabeth Cossens and Livingston Rae, an ironmonger. She later moved to Clydebank with her family.
Rae worked at the Singer Sewing Machine factory at Kilbowie in Clydebank in the 'Needle Flat' department where needles were made, sorted and checked. Resentful of the working practices imposed at the factory, including wage undercutting, increased workloads, job timing and work reorganisation she became one of the activists in the all-out strike at the factory that ran from March to April in 1911. For her involvement in the strike, she and more than 400 of her fellow work colleagues lost their jobs.
Rae was described as being strikingly tall, determined, strong-willed and studious, political conviction in progressing society and improving conditions for workers. After hearing the Scottish socialist Keir Hardie speak she joined the Clydebank branch of the Independent Labour Party, going on to become its Branch Secretary in 1913.
She was active in women's suffrage, and once chaired a talk given by Emmeline Pankhurst at Clydebank Town Hall. She was also involved in the temperance, anti-war and cooperative movements, and in the Clydeside Rent Strike. In 1922 she was elected as a Labour Party councillor for Clydebank Town Council, holding her seat until 1928. She was also a Justice of the peace, and in carrying out her duties was known for handing out the toughest sentences possible to men that had subjected women to domestic violence.
Named CollectionGlasgow Women's Library
Object TypePhotograph
Object numberGWL-2022-73
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved