Suffragettes in national costume at the International Suffrage Fair

Suffragettes in national costume at the International Suffrage Fair, November 1912. This image was one in a series taken by Christina Broom depicting participants and organisers of the Fair and shows the women posing outside the main entrance of Chelsea Town Hall. The Fair, organised by the Women's Freedom League was intended to inform visitors about the progress of female suffrage throughout the world. Suffragettes dressed in national costume manned stalls representing different nations arranged according to whether they gave women the vote. The Fair took place at Chelsea Town Hall in the Kings Road between 13th and 16th November 1912 and also included a programme of entertainment by the Actresses' Franchise League and demonstrations of national dance choreographed by Ruby Ginner.

Christina Broom, trading as Mrs Albert Broom, was a pioneering professional photographer and is considered to be the UK's first woman press photographer. Broom's extensive photographic work spans the activities of the suffrage movement in London, street views, military figures and actions of the Household Division including the First World War period, sporting events and the Royal Family.