Museum seeks Bexhill's "female firsts"

The exhibition will be entitled The Quest For Equality and will cover elements including the Women's Suffrage Movement, changes in domestic life, access to education and position in the workforce.

The museum is trying to find Bexhill Female Firsts.

It would like to find out about Bexhill's first post woman, the first female councillor, the first female firefighter and other female firsts.

The exhibition will cover a large time-span, from the early 1830s to the late 1980s.

Organisers are currently looking for items to include in the exhibition such as postcards, posters, items of clothing, photographs, documents, leaflets, badges and sashes and the like.

A spokesman said: "We are also interested in any personal accounts and memories.

"If you can help in any way the museum would be delighted to hear from you."

The areas the museum is particularly interested in are:

*The Suffrage Movement, 1866-1928 including the Suffragists (NUWSS) and Suffragettes (WSPU), and the Anti-Suffragist Movement

*Women in World War One and World War Two - especially those involved in "war work" and taking on male professions

*Access to education, especially experiences at university and colleges as well as being taught gender-specific subjects

*Employment, including female access to traditionally male careers, equal pay and career development

*Feminist movement in the 19870s

*Experience of domestic change and status including changes to marriage and divorce laws, raising children, traditional male and female roles in the home as well as technological and scientific developments

Anyone able to help is asked to contact the museum on 01424 787950 or e-mail [email protected]