FIRST NOMINATION:
"I nominate "RAILWAYWOMEN" by HELENA WOJTCZAK
This book is - literally - unique. No-one before this has written a book
specifically on the subject of women's lives employed on British railways.
The book covers from 1832 to the present day.
It is written from railway company record material and also from interviews
with women who are now or have been employed on British railways.
It is perfectly factual and yet very readable, fascinating too because this
is a completely new field of research.
The book proves - and proof was needed because many men refused to believe -
or admit - the vital work done by women on railways - the employment of
women on a large scale on railways. It proves their ill-treatment and lack
of trade union support as well.
It is, all-round, a very good read and a unique addition to the history of
British railways.
Adrian Vaughan"
Adrian Vaughan's website
SECOND NOMINATION:
"I would like to nominate the book Railwaywomen by Helena Wojtczak.
This book is a major contribution to the sphere of labour history as it is the only one ever written which covers the subject of women's role in the history and development of railways in Britain from one of the earliest horse-drawn waggonways in 1717 to the present day. The importance of this book is further illustrated as the author points out the lack of reference to women in all the major railway histories previously written; what was dismissed in a sentence or two has, with meticulous research over many years, now filled a complete book.
The book draws exclusively on primary sources including unique access to railway union minute books and interviews with women workers to produce a work which is immensely informative whilst also being entertaining and easily readable. It is lavishly illustrated with over 100 pages of photographs, many of which are from private collections and have never been published before. The book is arranged chronologically and, from the second world war onwards, includes firsthand accounts of women's experiences as well as archive material to give a real insight into these pioneers in a male dominated world. All aspects of work are covered from office workers and women in workshops and catering as well as the breakthrough into actual operating roles as guards, drivers, signallers and track workers, to today's high-flying managers and executives. On the way it charts the reactions of the male workforce, management and unions to women workers, often with surprising conclusions.
The final part of the book contains the author's considered and well argued views on the changing attitudes to railwaywomen through more than 100 years of history and she is well qualified to comment on the latter part of this period this as, at the age of 19, she was the first female guard to be employed by British Rail.
Adrian C Hancock
More information on the Labor History Book Prize can be found here