Council Elections During WWI

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WilmaM
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Council Elections During WWI

Post by WilmaM » Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:36 pm

Family lore has it [and there's usually more than a kernel of truth in them] that during WWI my GreatGrand-Mother stood for election in the Glasgow Council / Corporation Elections.

I've google around and searched a few newspaper archive sites but come up empty handed.

Her name was Isa McKinlay nee Brownlie [1884- 1962] and she lived in Govan.
I know she was a prominent member of both the Eastern Star and Orange Lodge.
The story I've heard was that she stood for election in the Kinning Park Ward, in the Govan area of the city

She obviously wasn't elected [as Mary Barbour has the distinction of being the first female Councillor in 1920] but I'd be interested in finding some newspaper articles or even her election manifesto.

The Govan Press would be the most obvious place to find information - but sadly their archives aren't on-line.

Any idea's of how I could find out about her Eastern Star and LOL career would be most welcome too.
Wilma

AndrewP
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by AndrewP » Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:36 pm

Hi Wilma,

The election results given in The Scotsman of 04-Nov-1914 told that of the 37 wards in the municipal area of Glasgow, only 13 were contested. All of the candidates' names were men's names, or 3 with initials only. None were McKinlay or Brownlie. The other seats were uncontested.

All the best,

AndrewP

WilmaM
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by WilmaM » Sun Nov 19, 2017 10:26 pm

Thanks Andrew,
I've a feeling it was perhaps later on in the war, when men were scarce at home, that the women tried to fill the gap.

I hadn't looked as far afield as the Scotsman though.
Wilma

AndrewP
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by AndrewP » Sun Nov 19, 2017 10:57 pm

Hi Wilma,

The results of the elections of 04-Nov-1919 were reported in The Scotsman the following day. Only 10 of the 37 Glasgow seats were contested. Once more, the names of the candidates were all men, or a few of initials only. None of them was a McKinlay or a Brownlie.

There was one notable name there - Emanuel Shinwell (better known as Manny Shinwell), who at that time was one of the leading figures of Red Clydeside, later went on to become an MP, and finally was elevated to the House of Lords. He died, age 101, in 1986, an active politician almost until his end. See Wikipedia: Manny Shinwell.

All the best,

AndrewP

Currie
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by Currie » Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:35 am

Hello Wilma & Andrew,

No luck with the ProQuest version of The Scotsman so I tried a British Newspaper Archive search for “Isa M'Kinlay” and got two election related results, both of which were in The Scotsman. These were 22 October, 1938, and 4 February, 1939. I can't access the newspapers there. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co. ... 20scotland

Scotsman, 22 October, 1938: Mrs. Isa M'Kinlay (Prog.). nominated for the seat of Fairfield.
See Glasgow Herald, same date (not 21st), top of column 3. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V ... %2C3365628

Scotsman, 4 February, 1939: Mrs. Isa M'Kinlay, (Prog.) candidate in Fairfield Ward by-Election.
See Glasgow Herald, same date, bottom of column 3.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8 ... 2%2C658420

Also The Scotsman, 15 February, 1939.
Only 30.3% of the electorate voted. Peter L. Meldrum (Soc.), 3655 votes; Mrs. Isa M'kinley (Prog.) 1799; James Mackie (Scot. Nat.), 97.
See Glasgow Herald, same day, bottom of column 6.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=- ... %2C2260812

There's only one person by that name in Scotland in 1911. If that's her she ran a bit later than you thought or had another go at it.

No luck with the other business,

All the best,
Alan

AndrewP
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by AndrewP » Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:18 am

Hi Wilma,

Using Alan's information above...

The Scotsman :: 22-Oct-1938 :: Election nominations
  • ... contests in 35 out of 38 wards (3 uncontested) ...
    Fairfield: John Davis (Socialist), Mrs Isa M'Kinlay (Progressive), James Mackie (Scottish Nationalist)
The Scotsman :: 02-Nov-1938 :: Election results
  • Fairfield: John Davis (Socialist) 5235, Mrs Isa M'Kinlay (Progressive) 2404, James Mackie (Scottish Nationalist) 188
The Scotsman :: 04-Feb-1939 :: Glasgow Ward By-Election
  • Failing any withdrawals being intimated before Monday afternoon, a triangular contest will take place in the forthcoming by-election in the Fairfield Ward of Glasgow to fill the vacancy on the Town Council created by the resignation of ex-Baillie James Crawford (Soc.), who has been one of the ward representatives since 1931. The Socialists seek to retain the seat through Mr Peter L. Meldrum, while the other candidates nominated in the City Chambers yesterday are Mrs Isa M'Kinlay (Prog.) and Mr James Mackie (Scot. Nat.). Polling takes place on 14th inst.
The Scotsman :: 15-Feb-1939 :: Glasgow Municipal By-Election
  • Only 30.3 per cent of the electorate voted in the municipal by-election in the Fairfield Ward of Glasgow, voting in which took place yesterday. The election was caused by the resignation of Councillor James Crawford (Soc.), and the Socialist Party succeeded in retaining the seat by a considerable margin.

    The votes were counted in the City Chambers, and soon after 9 o'clock Mr William Kerr, interim Town-Clerk announced the results as follows:- Peter L. Meldrum (Soc.), 3655, Mrs Isa M'Kinley (Prog.), 1799, James Mackie (Scot. Nat.), 97. Majority 1856. Spoiled papers 16.
Her surname was spelled wrongly in the 15-Feb-1939 article.

Wikipedia
  • The Progressive Party was a municipal political organisation that operated in several Scottish cities and towns in the 20th century. It was based on tacit anti-Labour co-operation between the Unionist Party, Scottish Liberals and Independents.
    See Wikipedia: Progressive Party (Scotland)
All the best,

Andrew P.

WilmaM
Posts: 1870
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Location: Falkirk area

Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by WilmaM » Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:34 pm

Thank you both,

Just a small matter of the wrong War confusing my searching :?

It's good to see the facts in print, even down to her address - both she and her mother died there as did her daughter in 1993. Just a modest 2 bedroom corporation semi, but 4 generations of the family lived there as well as occasional members of the extended family and she kept an Open House for servicemen

She was known to all as Mother McKinlay.

Next quest to find her grave - seemingly a very large monument erected by the Eastern Star in Craigton Cemetery - but last time I braved that jungle it wasn't apparent. Need to send my crew in exploring one day.
Wilma

carlineric
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by carlineric » Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:04 pm

I think there was a suspension of elections during WW11 unless they were required. I have a great uncle who was provost of a local burgh who was elected in 1936 but resigned in 1939 although he apparently was eligible to continue due to the war.

Eric
Eric

carolineasb
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Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by carolineasb » Tue Dec 05, 2017 9:10 pm

WilmaM, have you tried writing to the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland of the OES to see if they can give you any information about her time in the OES? Alternatively, you can email the Worthy Grand Secretary from the website:

http://www.supremegrandchapterofscotlan ... 0a6af0ef14

Hope this helps,

Caroline

WilmaM
Posts: 1870
Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:46 am
Location: Falkirk area

Re: Council Elections During WWI

Post by WilmaM » Tue Dec 05, 2017 10:03 pm

Thank you for that Caroline , I hadn't made any inquiries along those lines as I simply didn't know where or how to start.

Something to look into come the New Year.
Wilma

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