This post was published on Mary Wollstonecraft’s 266th birthday- Happy birthday Mary!
In February 2025, The Wollstonecraft Society facilitated an inspirational event called ‘The Wollstonecraft Museum’ for 150 Year Nine pupils of Beverley High School celebrating the life and legacy of Mary Wollstonecraft.
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797) was a writer, philosopher and advocate of women’s rights and education. The aim of the event was to educate students about Mary Wollstonecraft, her life experiences and impact on women’s rights via historical enquiry, drama, art, and creative writing.
The Wollstonecraft Museum was led by Emma Waslin (The Wollstonecraft Society), joined by professional writer Ellie Brammar (representing the Hull Maritime Museum) who enthralled pupils with creative writing and storytelling in relation to the French Revolution.
Rachel and Leila visual artists from Square Peg delivered hands-on clay sculpture workshops inspired by aspects of Wollstonecraft’s life. On the following day, their work was exhibited in the hall to create Beverley High School’s ‘The Wollstonecraft Museum’. When the students came to see the museum in action, 100% of students spoken to said that they were proud of the work they had done – and would definitely do it again!
Square Peg workshop. Photos used with permission of the Wollstonecraft Society. 
Square Peg workshop. Photos used with permission of the Wollstonecraft Society. 
Square Peg workshop. Photos used with permission of the Wollstonecraft Society. 
Square Peg workshop. Photos used with permission of the Wollstonecraft Society.
Archivist Hannah Stamp represented the East Riding Archives to deliver ‘document detective’ workshops exploring 18th-19th century records relating to Mary’s Beverley, and her impact on the Suffrage Movement. Wollstonecraft was termed ‘the first suffragette’, advocating for women’s rights a whole century before the Suffrage movement.
During her childhood, Mary lived at No 2 Highgate in Beverley- which pupils were able to see evidenced in an original archival document from 1773! The Wollstonecraft family are recorded as paying £12 6s 0d highway rates at an address in the Wednesday Market ward of Beverley (archives reference DDBC/14/31). Pupils also examined an apprenticeship record for Mary’s brother, Henry, who was apprenticed to Marmaduke Hewitt, a Surgeon and Apothecary, in 1775 (archives reference BC/IV/7/1)
During the final half of the Archives workshop, Mary’s impact on the Suffrage Movement was explored through archival documents, referencing material such as newspapers, photographs and propaganda literature (from both sides of the campaign!). Pupils became equipped with the tools and knowledge to conduct their own independent research in archives.
Overall, the Wollstonecraft Museum event was a huge success, with teachers reporting back to The Wollstonecraft Society that:
“All tasks gave our students an understanding of how they too can overcome difficulties just like Mary Wollstonecraft …Our more vulnerable students were thoroughly engaged, despite their anxieties they were all made to feel comfortable and each workshop was made accessible to them”
Thank you to The Wollstonecraft Society and Beverley High School for this exciting opportunity to share our county’s history, and Mary’s story, with the next generation!
Intrigued by Mary Wollstonecraft? Visit The Wollstonecraft Society website for more information on her life and legacy:
Archives blog 