Elizabeth McCracken (Irish writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Anne Maud McCracken (The writer L.A.M. Priestley)
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| Born | c. 1871 |
| Died | 3 January 1944 (age approximately 73) |
| Burial place | Bangor New Cemetery, Co Down |
| Occupation | Suffragette, author, journalist |
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Notable work
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The Feminine in Fiction, Love Stories of Eminent Women |
| Spouse(s) | George McCracken |
| Children | 3 |
Elizabeth "Lisbeth" Anne Maud McCracken (born around 1871 – died 1944) was a brave woman who fought for women's right to vote. She was also a writer who used her maiden name, L.A.M. Priestley. Elizabeth was very active in the north of Ireland. Even though she supported unionism herself, she joined other women from the Belfast Irish Women's Suffrage Society. They worked with the Women's Social and Political Union to demand that Ulster Unionists keep their promise to give women the vote in 1914. After the First World War, when women finally got the right to vote, she kept fighting for important issues in Northern Ireland. She spoke out against domestic violence and unfair treatment of women.
Contents
Her Life Story
It's a bit tricky to know everything about Elizabeth's early life. Records show different ages for her in the 1901 and 1911 census. But we know she was married to George McCracken, a lawyer from Belfast. She had three sons: George Stavely (born 1901), Maurice Lee (born 1902), and James Priestley (born 1904). Later in her life, Elizabeth lived in two places in County Down: Seafield House in Bangor and Brae Lodge in Greyabbey.
Elizabeth McCracken passed away in 1944 after being ill for several years. She is buried in Bangor New Cemetery in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Her Books and Articles
Elizabeth McCracken was a talented journalist and author. She wrote under her maiden name, L.A.M. Priestley. Her first book, Love Stories of Some Eminent Women, came out in 1906.
Understanding Women in Stories
In 1918, she published The Feminine in Fiction. In this book, she looked closely at how relationships between men and women were shown in English novels. She studied how female characters changed over time. At first, women in books were often just "passive creatures." This means they let things happen to them and followed society's rules. But then, characters like the "New Woman" appeared. These were strong, capable women who could control their own lives.
Writing for Change
Elizabeth also wrote many articles for different journals. She wrote for suffragist magazines like The Vote and feminist ones like The Irish Citizen. She also wrote for The Irish Presbyterian and a spiritual journal called The Herald of the Star. Some of her articles were even turned into popular small books.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Elizabeth McCracken was a passionate fighter for women's rights. In 1911, when filling out her census form, she wrote "Unenfranchised" under "Specific Illnesses." This showed how strongly she felt about not having the right to vote.
Joining the Suffrage Movement
She joined the Irish Women's Suffrage Society (IWSS). This group believed that getting the vote would help solve many social problems. In their weekly meetings in Belfast, they talked about important issues. These included reducing infant deaths and ensuring fair working conditions for women.
A Promise Broken
In 1913, Elizabeth was hopeful when the Ulster Unionist Council seemed to support votes for women. They even said that if a new government was formed in Ulster, women would get the vote. However, this promise didn't last long. In March 1914, a key Unionist leader, Edward Carson, said they couldn't take a stand on women's suffrage because it was too divisive.
Taking Action
Because of this broken promise, the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Ulster decided to take stronger action. Elizabeth McCracken had joined the WSPU with other women like Margaret MacCoubrey and Dr. Elizabeth Bell. They began protesting against Unionist properties.
War and Women's Roles
When the First World War started, Elizabeth asked in The Irish Citizen, "Shall Suffrage Cease?" She pointed out that men who had criticized women for their protests were now asking women to support the "most aggravated form of militancy—war." She questioned why women should fight for a country that didn't give them full citizenship. In 1915, she invited Sylvia Pankhurst, another famous suffragist, to Belfast. Sylvia spoke about the importance of equal pay for women who were doing war work.
Continuing the Fight
After the war, women over 30 finally got the right to vote. Elizabeth wanted to see women run for political office independently. She believed this was the only way for women to truly have a voice and not just follow "men's plans." She continued to campaign for women's safety and financial independence. She was especially concerned about violence against women and girls.
Published Work as L.A.M Priestley
- 1906 Love Stories of Some Eminent Women, Henry J Davis, London.
- 1914 "Shall Suffrage Cease?" The Irish Citizen, 29 August 1914.
- 1915 "Co-operative Housekeeping", The Irish Citizen, 16 October.
- 1918 The Feminine in Fiction, G Allen & Unwin, London.
- 1919 First Causes.
- 1919 "Wife Beating", The Irish Citizen, September.
- 1928 The Story of County Down (a contribution to fundraising efforts for the maternity hospital).
- 1933 "Mme Sarah Grand and Women's Emancipation", The Vote 34 (24 August): 244.
