Bertha Barrow and Library Assistants, St Annes Library, St Annes on Sea

iBase ID

276640

Reference identifier

zco20180726001

Title

Bertha Barrow and Library Assistants, St Annes Library, St Annes on Sea

Place

St Annes on Sea

Personal names

Bertha Barrow

General notes

This photo was published in the Lytham St Annes Express on 14th Jan 1927 with an article celebrating the library's 21st birthday.
From rear to front: Miss Shepherd (left), Mrs Infield (right), Miss Barrow (left), Miss Matthews (right).

The first Librarian in charge, appointed in July 1905, was a Mr T P Thompson who had come from Bolton where he had worked at the Bolton Free Library for 14 years. By March 1906, however, he had been replaced by Miss Bertha M Barrow. The minutes of the Library and Baths Committee of the Council reports that after his resignation, her appointment was accepted on 26 February 1906 at a salary of £60 per annum. The minutes state that it was resolved "That a lady librarian be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr T. P Thompson". The St Anne's on the Sea Express of 7 March 1906 tells us that "Miss Barrow was an applicant when the council advertised last year, but the committee had, at that time, resolved to appoint a male librarian. The committee therefore knew her qualifications and for that reason the vacant post was not again advertised. The Council, we believe, will not regret their choice." The Express also commented that as at that time 70% of those who attended St Annes Library were women the appointment was especially appropriate.

She found an eloquent champion in the Express - on 18 April 1906, after she had reorganised the library it commented that "Miss Barrow has great reason to feel proud of all that she has accomplished in such a short space of time". An enlightened position for the newspaper in an age when women hadn't yet achieved the vote and although, the 1901 census shows that over 30% of women over the age of 10 were in paid employment, 80% of those were in domestic service, other services or manufacturing. At the time less than 9% of working women were in the professions let alone in a management position. Miss Barrow actually served the people of St Anne's for over 30 years and retired from her post just before the start of World War II in August 1939.

This photo was published in the Lytham St Annes Express on 14th Jan 1927 with an article celebrating the library's 21st birthday.
From rear to front: Miss Shepherd (left), Mrs Infield (right), Miss Barrow (left), Miss Matthews (right).

The first Librarian in charge, appointed in July 1905, was a Mr T P Thompson who had come from Bolton where he had worked at the Bolton Free Library for 14 years. By March 1906, however, he had been replaced by Miss Bertha M Barrow. The minutes of the Library and Baths Committee of the Council reports that after his resignation, her appointment was accepted on 26 February 1906 at a salary of £60 per annum. The minutes state that it was resolved "That a lady librarian be appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr T. P Thompson". The St Anne's on the Sea Express of 7 March 1906 tells us that "Miss Barrow was an applicant when the council advertised last year, but the committee had, at that time, resolved to appoint a male librarian. The committee therefore knew her qualifications and for that reason the vacant post was not again advertised. The Council, we believe, will not regret their choice." The Express also commented that as at that time 70% of those who attended St Annes Library were women the appointment was especially appropriate.

She found an eloquent champion in the Express - on 18 April 1906, after she had reorganised the library it commented that "Miss Barrow has great reason to feel proud of all that she has accomplished in such a short space of time". An enlightened position for the newspaper in an age when women hadn't yet achieved the vote and although, the 1901 census shows that over 30% of women over the age of 10 were in paid employment, 80% of those were in domestic service, other services or manufacturing. At the time less than 9% of working women were in the professions let alone in a management position. Miss Barrow actually served the people of St Anne's for over 30 years and retired from her post just before the start of World War II in August 1939.

Medium

Photographic print

Colour

Monochrome

Original image size

21 x 16

Year of image

1927

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Locator

Mario Map link

MARIO Map

Collection link

Web link

St Annes-on-the-Sea Carnegie Library on Wikipedia