BRITISH CONSERVATISM AND THE PRIMROSE LEAGUE ... - ideals

professional role of women in political activities of the League was
primarily confined to the metropolitan region where the LGC's influence
predominated.* 4
Nevertheless, their appointments were tangible
evidence of the value placed on women organizers by members of the
Grand Council.
The influence of women in positions of authority at the
Divisional and local levels was substantially greater, their numbers
increasing significantly as one descends down the organizational
hier­
archy of the League.
The 1888 Roll lists 565,084 members, 366 Divi­
sions, and 1,730 Habitations.
Of the 3,435 officers of the Primrose
League identified, 907 were women, 26.4 percent of the total.15
At the Divisional level there were 212 officers, 17.4 percent
of which were women.
The most prestigious position at this rank was
that of Divisional President, held, respectively, by 90 men and 17
women, the latter constituting a relatively modest 15.9 percent of
those listed.
At the level of Divisional Secretary, women fared
better, occupying 19 out of 84 titles or 18.4 percent of the total.
Both a man and a woman held positions as Divisional Vice Presidents,
their numbers insufficient to merit statistical comparison.
14
Miss Sewell of Bideford was also mentioned as having
reported for the Agency Committee. However, she received no official
mention as a Provincial Secretary and it was doubtful that she was
employed in a professional capacity. Minutes of the Grand Council of
the Primrose League, 1 November 1900. The Primrose League Gazette, 2
July 1900, p. 3; 1 June 1901, p. 4.
15 The figures cited are based on my computer tabulation of
Habitations, Divisions, officers, Knights, Dames, and Associates
contained in the 1888 Roll of Habitations. The membership total does
not include District Agents (22). Officers holding multiple titles are
counted on each occasion, except where they occupy two or more posts
within the same Division.