Jamesina Anderson (née McKenna) (1885–1977) was a Scottish politician, socialist, and advocate of the rights of working-class people, especially the elderly and children.
Jamesina Anderson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1885 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 1977 (aged 91–92) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Local Politics |
Early life and education edit
Jamesina McKenna was born in Glasgow, Scotland in December 1885. Her father, a cab driver, had died three months before her birth. Her mother remarried in 1888. Jamesina left school aged 13–14 and was a hand-loom weaver and milliner until 1906 when she married John Anderson, an iron-milling machinist and a foreman at Singer's sewing machine factory in Clydebank. They had eight children, of whom six survived her.[1] They lived in Maryhill, Glasgow.
Welfare and Workers' Rights edit
She was a founding member of the Maryhill Ward Committee in 1920 and was elected several times as chair, until it was disbanded following local government reconstruction in 1977.[1][2] She had a particular interest in the welfare of the elderly, organising fund-raising and holiday events for older people during her working life, and after she retired from the council.[1][2][3][4]
Political career edit
She was elected to Glasgow Town Council as a Labour Party Councillor for Maryhill in 1945, and represented Maryhill Ward 18 from 1945 to 1962. She was elected as magistrate in 1947, was a Baillie from 1947 to 1951, and served as a Police Court Judge for the burgh of Maryhill from 1951.[1][5][6] On the council, she served on a variety of standing committees and was convenor of the Children's Committee.[1][6][7] She was also on the sub-committee for Boarding-Out, in which role she travelled to check on children who had been boarded-out to be looked after[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "The woman Bailie who fought for young and old". Glasgow Herald. 7 June 1977. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Andrew S (1975). The 18th Maryhill Ward Committee: A Backward Look.
- ^ "At Maryhill: Wartime Difficulties and Old Folks' Treat". The Western Leader. 20 April 1940.
- ^ "Maryhill Ward Committee's Old Folks' Treat". Maryhill Clarion. November 1949.
- ^ "Glasgow Appointments". The Scotsman. 7 November 1947.
- ^ a b City of Glasgow Corporation Diary 1945–1963. Glasgow Corporation.
- ^ "Progressives hope to win Maryhill". Glasgow Herald. 6 June 1960.