Helen Alexander Archdale (née Russell)
(1876-1949), Journalist; SuffragetteSitter in 1 portrait
After leaving St Andrews University, Archdale followed in her parents' footsteps, becoming a journalist and dedicating her life to championing women's equal rights. Her mother was one of the Edinburgh Seven, who had successfully campaigned to become one of the first female medical students at Edinburgh University. After joining the Scottish Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1908, Archdale was arrested for disrupting a meeting addressed by Winston Churchill and was imprisoned. Archdale and other inmates immediately went on hunger strike and she was released four days later. During World War I she established a farm for women to learn about agricultural employment. Her work continued to focus on women's rights in the work place.
Helen Alexander Archdale (née Russell)
by Lafayette
half-plate film negative, 3 February 1928
NPG x42311
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.