Search the Collection

Mary Augusta Ward (née Arnold)

(1851-1920), Novelist, philanthropist and political lobbyist; wife of (Thomas) Humphry Ward

Sitter in 32 portraits
The daughter of Thomas Arnold, Ward took an active interest in social work for London's poor and in women's education. She embodied her views in her novel Robert Elsmere (1888), the sales of which enabled her to establish a charitable 'settlement' for the working classes in London, which pioneered childcare for working women. She married Thomas Humphry Ward of Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1872. She founded the Lectures for Women committee in 1879 and helped establish Somerville College, Oxford, but was opposed to women's suffrage. In 1908, she led the Women's Anti-Suffrage Association, which argued that women were the country's 'moral force', with channels of expression outside the political sphere.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

ListThumbnail

Related People

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.