Graphical version

Women's Library

FRAENKEL, Elsa (1892-1975)


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 106 7EFR

Held at: Women's Library

Title: FRAENKEL, Elsa (1892-1975)

Date(s): 1957-1967

Level of description: Collection

Extent: 0.5 A box (1 folder and 1 OS item)

Name of creator(s): Fraenkel | Elsa | 1892-1975 | sculptor and artist

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Elsa Fraenkel (1892-1975) was a sculptor and artist who became friends with Sylvia Pankhurst during the post-war period. They met for the first time in 1950 Fraenkel herself became interested in Ethiopia, the country with which Pankhurst was involved at the time. By 1950 the former was helping to organise cultural events featuring the African nation in London and contributed some of her own work to the celebration that was held in London when the Princess Tsahay Hospital was dedicated. Before Sylvia Pankhurst went to live in Ethiopia in 1956, she left her paintings and sketches with Mrs Elsa Fraenkel, herself a sculptor. When Pankhurst had moved to Ethiopia, Fraenkel contacted her with the aim of creating an exhibition of her work during her time with the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Pankhurst was unable to help her having left behind much of the work she had created at the turn of the century, but was able to give her information on the time and send her photographs of a WSPU fete in the Princes Skating Rink. The eventual exhibition of work which was eventually arranged by Fraenkel and Lady Winstedt took place at the French Institute on 5 Dec 1959, sponsored by the Suffragette Fellowship, the Women's Freedom league and the Royal India, Pakistan and Ceylon Society. Fraenkel also wrote an (undated) article on 'Sylvia Pankhurst : student days' which was based on notes supplied by Sylvia. After Pankhurst's death in 1960, Elsa offered a portrait of her to the National Portrait Gallery.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

The archive consists of photocopies of letters sent to Fraenkel by Pankhurst mainly concerned with an exhibition of the latter's paintings which Elsa organised and which was held in London in 1959. Includes a pastel drawing of Pankhurst by Fraenkel (c.1957).

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:

Collection level description available on-line on the Women's Library website

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited by Rita Pankhurst in 1987.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

The original letters are believed to be in the possession of Elsa Fraenkel's family.

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

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: 14/02/2008


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Women | Sex | Sex distribution
Women artists | Artists
Womens organizations | Associations | Organizations
Womens suffrage | Electoral systems | Internal politics

Personal names
Fraenkel | Elsa | 1892-1975 | sculptor and artist
Pankhurst | Estelle Sylvia | 1882-1960 | suffragist and political campaigner

Corporate names
Suffragette Fellowship
Women's Social and Political Union

Places