Celebrating women's work in Fife through the decades

At work in the accounts section of the former Glenrothes Development Corporation in what is now Fife House (Pic: OnFife)

From pitheads to offices and hospitals to the factory floor, the work of women in Fife in the 20th century is being celebrated this week by ONFife.

In a collaborative project involving various teams across the cultural trust, Women at Work will see Archives and Local Studies sharing fascinating images online from the photography collections.

And,, ONFife Libraries will be making reading recommendations, and the public are being invited to join in a simultaneous viewing of the documentary film Her Century: Scottish Women in Film on Thursday evening.

Shop assistants at work in this Dunfermline store, with its beautifully stacked jumpers and wool, back in the day when, as the sign on the counter advertises, you could have your hosiery repaired (date unknown). (Pic: ONFife)

The film, which was premiered recently by the National Library of Scotland in partnership with Film Hub Scotland, is a curated collection of archive films that explore the major social changes Scottish Women have faced in the past 100 years including their fight for equality: at work and at home, from classroom to croft, from girlhood to motherhood.

There will also be a post-film chat with ONFife Local Studies Officer Sara Kelly.

Meanwhile the Libraries recommendations will include influential 20th century writers.

Remembering the girl born a slave who lived free in Fife

Trainee nurses in the class of 1978-79 at the School of Midwifery, Kirkcaldy.(PIc: ONFIfe)

“We’re delighted to be celebrating the working lives of women during the last century and it also gives us a great opportunity to share some of the terrific archive material that is such a rich resource for the people of Fife,” said Michelle Sweeney, ONFife’s director of creative development.

ONFife would love to hear from anyone who has any additional information about any of the photographs. Find out more at the On at Fife Archives on Facebook and on Twitter.

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