Miss Anna Munro

Portrait postcard of the Scottish Suffragette Anna Munro. Signed across the image.
Born in Glasgow, Anna Gillies Macdonald Munro first became aware of the Women's Social and Political Union whilst working with the poor in London's east end on behalf of the Wesleyan Methodist Sisters of the People. In 1906 Anna founded the Dunfermeline branch of the WSPU but, the following year, left the WSPU to join the breakaway organisation the Women's Freedom League, becoming Teresa Billington Greig's Private Secretary. In January 1908 Anna was imprisoned in Holloway for six weeks for her part in demonstrations outside the home of the cabinet minister Richard Haldane. From 1908 to 1912 she served as organising secretary for the Women's Freedom League Scottish Council, played a key role in the organisation of the 1911 census protest and took part in the WFL caravan tours of rural areas. In 1912 Anna Munro was one of four members of the WFL who marched the entire route of the Women's Freedom League Edinburgh–London march addressing the rallies in both Edinburgh and London. Shortly after her marriage to Sidney Ashman in 1913 Anna Munro, now based with her husband in Reading, was imprisoned for her part in holding an illegal suffrage meeting in Hyde Park. Following her Suffragette career Anna had two children became a Magistrate and remained active in the Labour Party and Temperance Movement.