Jessey Wade
English animal welfare activist (1859–1952)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anna Jessey Wade (2 December 1859 – 10 May 1952) was an English animal welfare campaigner, suffragette, writer, and editor. She was involved with the Humanitarian League, worked with Ernest Bell on animal welfare publications, and founded the Cats Protection League, now known as Cats Protection. Wade also co-founded the feminist journal Urania and the National Society for the Abolition of Cruel Sports.
2 December 1859
- Activist
- writer
- editor
Jessey Wade | |
|---|---|
Illustration thought to depict Jessey Wade in The Animals' Friend Cat Book[1] | |
| Born | Anna Jessey Wade 2 December 1859 Westminster, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 10 May 1952 (aged 92) London, England |
Resting place | Golders Green Crematorium |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | c. 1906–1948 |
| Known for |
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Wade was secretary of the Humanitarian League's Children's Department from 1906 to 1919 and was a member of the Women's Freedom League. She took part in the suffragette boycott of the 1911 United Kingdom census. She edited Little Animals' Friend and The Cats' Mews-Sheet, and wrote pamphlets on humane education and animal welfare. Her book The Animals' Friend Cat Book was published in 1917. She retired in 1948 and died in London in 1952.
Biography
Early life
Wade was born Anna Jessey Wade on 2 December 1859, in Westminster, Middlesex, to John and Anna Wade.[2][3][4]
Activism
Wade was associated with the animal welfare campaigner Ernest Bell, whose personal secretary she was until his death in 1933. Bell edited Animals' Friend, and Wade became editor of its children's sister publication, Little Animals' Friend, after Edith Carrington.[1] She wrote pamphlets for the Animals' Friend Society's "A. F." pamphlet series, including Cruelties in Dress, Mother Love in the Animal World, Fur Coats, Hats and the Woman, Little Father Christmas, and Winter Cruelties.[5]
From 1906 to 1919, Wade was Honorary Secretary of the Children's Department of the Humanitarian League.[6] She was also a member of the Women's Freedom League and, as part of a suffragette protest, refused to complete the 1911 United Kingdom Census.[7] In 1916, she co-founded Urania, a journal associated with opposition to gender distinctions and gender-based prejudice.[8]
In 1927, Wade organised a meeting at Caxton Hall, London, at which the Cats Protection League was established.[9] She later edited the league's journal, The Cats' Mews-Sheet. In 1932, she co-founded the National Society for the Abolition of Cruel Sports with Bell and others.[10] Wade was also involved with the Pit Ponies' Protection Society and the Performing and Captive Animals' Defence League.[1] She met B. Maude Phillips of the Animal Rescue League of Boston in London.[11] In 1935, Wade gave a speech for the Humane Education Society in Manchester.[12]
Personal life and death
In 1945, The Cat reported that Wade was in poor health following a serious accident, and that she had undergone an operation for cataracts.[13]
Wade retired as editor of Little Animals' Friend in 1948, after 50 years in the post.[14] She died at her home at Abbey Road Mansions on 10 May 1952, aged 92. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium on 15 May.[2]
Animal welfare organisations
Wade held roles in several animal welfare organisations:[6][15]
- Humanitarian League, Honorary Secretary of the Children's Department, 1906–1919
- Pit Ponies' Protection Society, member
- National Society for the Abolition of Cruel Sports, co-founder with Ernest Bell and others[10]
- Cats Protection League, founder[16]
- Humane Education Society Council for Protection of Animals, vice-president
Publications
Books
- The Animals' Friend Cat Book (London: G. Bell and Sons, 1917)
Magazines
- Little Animals' Friend (c. 1898–1948)
- The Cats' Mews-Sheet
Pamphlets
- Cruelties in Dress (London: Animals' Friend Society, 1912)
- Mother Love in the Animal World (London: Animals' Friend Society)
- Fur Coats (London: Animals' Friend Society)
- Hats and the Woman (London: Animals' Friend Society)
- Little Father Christmas (London: Animals' Friend Society)
- Winter Cruelties (London: Animals' Friend Society)
- We & the Animals Are Kin (National Council for Animals' Welfare)