The papers relate to Mrs Williamson's involvement with the Common Wealth Party between 1942 and 1945:
the Parliamentary by-election, Ashford, in which she stood, 1942-1943: correspondence with Sir Richard Acland, election leaflets, Common Wealth publications, press cuttings.
Common Wealth Party activities in Canterbury, 1943-1945: cuttings from Kentish and national press.
Also: a few press-cuttings on Sir Richard Acland's gift of family estates in Devon to the National Trust, 1943.
Mrs Catherine Ellis Williamson (1896-1977) was educated at Cheltenham Ladies College. She was a director and manager for 35 years of her husband's family business of tanners in Canterbury. A Labour member of the City Council in 1936 to 1943, she was the City's first woman mayor. She contested parliamentary elections at Ashford (1943) and Canterbury (1945) as a candidate for the Common Wealth political party and East Grinstead (1950) and Hastings (1951) as a Labour candidate. (See Who was who, 7, 1971-1980.)
Items in the collection may be consulted for the purpose of private study and personal research, within the controlled environment and restrictions of The Keep's Reading Rooms.
Given by Mr Stephen Williamson (Mrs Williamson's widower) in 1978.
Prepared by John Farrant, September 2002.
An online catalogue is available on The Keep's website.
COPIES FOR PRIVATE STUDY: Subject to copyright, conditions imposed by owners and protecting the documents, digital copies can be made.
PUBLICATION: A reader wishing to publish material in the collection should contact the Head of Special Collections, in writing. The reader is responsible for obtaining permission to publish from the copyright owner.
