Chrystal Macmillan, 1872-1937: Campaigner for Equality, Justice and Peace

This historical biography of Chrystal Macmillan, one of Scotland’s most prominent campaigners for women’s equality, justice and peace in the early twentieth century, is the first account of her life and work.
It describes her early life in a comfortable home in Edinburgh, her school and university years in Scotland, and her rise to prominence as the main appellant in the ’Scottish Women Graduates’ Case’ when it went to appeal in the House of Lords.
She was an important figure in the suffrage movement both in Scotland, and in England where she lived from 1913, becoming influential in several national and international women’s organisations. She used her legal skills and training to scrutinise, draft and suggest amendments to legislation that had direct impact on women’s lives, including their right to their own nationality, to become members of the legal profession and to be treated equally with men in the workplace.
In 1915 she was an organiser of the International Women’s Congress at The Hague, which urged political leaders to use mediation to stop the war. In 1924, she qualified as a barrister in London and was active on the Western Circuit and London courts. Although she left no diary, the recollections of friends, obituaries and memorials provide a vivid image of a woman of considerable ability, commitment and courage.

Helen Kay, independent researcher, has a special interest in the woman suffrage movement in Scotland and the early history of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) from 1915 to 1924. As a member of the Women’s History Network, Helen has promoted interest in the work of Chrystal Macmillan, working with Edinburgh University on exhibitions and giving presentations on various aspects of Chrystal Macmillan’s work to academic and community groups.

Rose Pipes is a former commissioning editor with Oliver & Boyd publishers, Edinburgh, and now an independent researcher. Her own publications include The Colonies of Stockbridge and Stockbridge in Living Memory. She is also co-editor of The Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women and The New Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women (EUP, 2006/2018). She has published several articles on Chrystal Macmillan as well as contributing to the Legal Landmarks project.