Ballot paper

Voting paper printed with the names of seven female candidates wishing to gain admission to the British Asylum for Deaf and Dumb Females in Lower Clapton, East London. The paper is addressed to Mr. Thompson of 8 Buccleugh Terrace, Upper Clapton who, as a subscriber to the asylum, is entitled to two votes. He has voted for the candidate called Tryphena Whitehouse. This paper relates to the annual election of 25 October 1870. The asylum was founded by two women at Stamford Hill in the mid 19th century and it moved to Lower Clapton Road in 1864. Like other asylums and hospitals of the time, this asylum relied on financial contributions from benefactors. Donors had a say in the running of the organisation, and could vote on which patients to admit.