We were treated to a fascinating talk by Lizzie Broadbent about ‘Women in Advertising Between the Wars’. In 1913, one of Britain’s women’s magazines told readers about the opportunities presented by this ‘new, vital and growing vocation’ and that year women working in the industry came together to form their own network, the Women’s Advertising Club of London (WACL) open to women in senior and executive roles in the industry. The industry offered good salaries, fluid progression, a supportive environment and no legal barriers such as a marriage bar – women in executive roles in advertising continued to work after marriage and children. Often beginning their career in secretarial or clerical roles, women were able to rise through the ranks and agencies promoted their employment, recognising their purchasing power not just in terms of managing household budgets but also their increasing independence and ability to spend on themselves. By 1931, women were running five of Britain’s largest agencies including Samson Clark and Crawford’s. Lizzie introduced us to some of these pioneers including Jessie Reynolds, Ethel Wood, Ethel Wilson, Marion Jean Lyon (the first President of WACL and advertising manager of Punch magazine), Florence Sangster and her sister Margaret Havinden – all born in the reign of Queen Victoria. Lizzie also explained how women in advertising were able to support and promote the careers of other professional women including artists and photographers such as Yevonde, a pioneer in colour photography whose work was featured in a recent National Portrait Gallery exhibition.
If you would like to find out more about Lizzie’s work to promote women and her research into the lives of early business women who broke the mould, click here
If you would like to learn more about women in advertising and the history of WACL, click here.
“Last evening’s talk was so good, I really found it fascinating. A lovely evening as usual.”