1-192-445 - © London Museum/Heritage-Images

Edith How-Martyn, c1909. Educated at the North London Collegiate School and University College, Aberystwyth, Edith How-Martyn gave up her lectureship in mathematics at Westfield College to work full-time for the women's suffrage movement. In 1906 she became one of the first Women's Social and Political Union members to serve time in Holloway Gaol; after being arrested outside the House of Commons in October 1906 she was charged with obstruction and sentenced to two months in prison. She was released after a month on a King's Pardon. She was joint Honorary Secretary of the WSPU, and in 1907 she was co-founder and Honorary Secretary of the Women's Freedom League. She relinquished the Secretaryship of the WFL in January 1911 to become the Honorary Head of the Political and Militancy Department until April 1912.