Selina Cooper

Cooper became active in trade union activities and took practical courses in laundry, hygiene and first aid and became a member of the Barnoldswick St John's Ambulance Committee in 1895.^[3] She was an early member of the Nelson Social Democratic Federation (SDF), and later founded a branch of the party in Brierfield.^[4] She joined the Women's Co-operative Guild in 1897 and the North of England Society for Women's Suffrage in 1900.^[2][3]

In 1901, Cooper was elected to the Board of Guardians, as a joint SDF-ILP candidate. She became frustrated with the SDF's lack of interest in the suffrage movement, and moved away from the party, becoming a full-time organiser for the suffrage movement.^[4] In 1910 she was chosen to be one of four women to present the case for women's suffrage to H. H. Asquith, who was then Prime Minister.^[2] In the provinces she with Ada Nield Chew and Margaret Aldersley were experienced labour activists in Lancashire.^[5]

During the First World War Cooper developed the first ever Maternity Centre in Nelson, Lancashire. She was later elected to the town council and went on to become a local magistrate. She resigned from the Labour Party in the 1930s due to her belief that the party did not take a strong enough line against fascism.^[3]

Selina Cooper's house at 59 St Mary's Street, Nelson is marked with a heritage blue plaque.^[6] In 2015, she was the subject of a play by the Function Factory theatre in Nelson titled "Hard-Faced Woman".^[7]