3-003-945 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Miss Emily Faithfull, 1861. Engraving from a photograph by Herbert Watkins of the secretary of the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women. A committee was set up to report on the best way to increase the industrial employment of women. Faithfull '...established a printing-press for the employment of women in Great Coram-street...The advocates of the "family principle" contended that the proper sphere of woman's usefulness was her home, and that her duty was the ministration to the comfort of husband and children...[however] the objectors were silenced...and...her Majesty signified her gracious approval of the press which is called by her name...a number of women have become skilful compositors, and have performed a large amount of work to the entire satisfaction of their employers...Having succeeded in establishing the Victoria Press, Miss Faithfull is now seeking to...make it auxiliary to the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science...The "Victoria Regia," a Christmas book of prose and verse, will shortly be issued by her press. It will contain contributions from nearly all of the most eminent authors of our day...The initial letters and the tailpieces to the articles have been designed and carved in wood by ladies'. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.