Graphical version

Women's Library

HEMMING, Alice (1907-1994)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 106 7ALH

Held at: Women's Library

Title: HEMMING, Alice (1907-1994)

Date(s): 1951-1972

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 0.5 A box (1 folder)

Name of creator(s): Hemming | Alice | 1907-1994 | President of the Commonwealth Countries League

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Alice [née Weaver] Hemming (1907-1994) was born in London on 18 Sep 1907. The family moved to Canada where Alice received her education. She graduated from the University of British Columbia and began working as a journalist on the Vancouver Province newspaper. Whilst working as a journalist, Alice interviewed Harold Hemming, a banker by profession who was leading a delegation of British headmasters visiting universities in Canada. Alice returned to London in order to work with Harold Hemming, translating books written by the French economist, André Siegfried. Alice and Harold Hemming were married in 1931. Following her involvement in war work in London, Alice returned to Vancouver in 1940 and began working as a journalist again. She was employed to write two regular newspaper columns and presenting a daily radio broadcast, all in support of the British war effort. Alice was also involved in giving lectures and created the information department of the Canadian National Film Board, based in Ottawa. In 1944, Alice returned to London with her two children and dedicated her time and energy to the women's movement. Alice was vice-president of the International Alliance of Women and the Women's Council for many years. She was president of the British Commonwealth League, renamed the Commonwealth Countries League in 1963, for forty years 1953-1972, and was also the Commonwealth Countries League's representative to the Status of Women Committee. Furthermore, Alice was responsible for establishing the Commonwealth Countries League annual fair from her own home in Primrose Hill, which developed into a major international event working to raise funds to provide education for girls in Commonwealth countries. It was for this work that Alice received an OBE in 1975 as well as honours from Canadian universities. Alice Hemming died on the 28 Mar 1994.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

The archive consists of papers and publicity material relating to the Commonwealth Countries League, personal correspondence and publicity for the Women's Freedom League and the establishment of the Mermaid Theatre.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

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

Conditions governing reproduction:

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Detailed catalogue

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited by Diana Dollery, a colleague of Alice Hemming in 1975.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

The Women's Library also holds the papers the Commonwealth Countries League (5CCL) and members such as Margery Irene Corbett Ashby (7MCA) and Chave Collison (7CHC). Please note much of this material is uncatalogued.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Finding aid created by export from CALM v7.2.14 Archives Hub EAD2002. Edited for AIM25 by Sarah Drewery.

Rules or conventions: In compliance with ISAD (G): General International Standard Archival Description - 2nd Edition (1999); UNESCO Thesaurus, December 2001; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: 05/02/2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Theatre | Performing arts
Women | Sex | Sex distribution
Womens education | Educational systems
Womens organizations | Associations | Organizations

Personal names
Hemming | Alice | 1907-1994 | nee Weaver | President of the Commonwealth Countries League

Corporate names
Commonwealth Countries League
Women's Freedom League

Places