Emilia Frances Dilke [1840-1904] joined the Women's Protective and Provident League (later the Women's Trade Union League) in 1876 and became its President 10 years later. From 1889-1904 she attended the Trades Union Congress as a representative of the League, and frequently spoke at meetings throughout the country on labour questions affecting women, particularly the cause of unskilled workers in dangerous trades. These manuscript notes on the importance of trade union organisation to improve women's wages and conditions were written for a speech made to textile workers at the People's Hall in Leeds on 7 September, 1904. She died 6 weeks later.
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