Anne Lister's Cousins
Menstruation in the 19th Century
Anne referred to her period as her 'cousin' and meticulously documented when her cycle began. This was often recorded in crypthand, noting essential details such as the flow and whether she required the use of papers, napkins, or linens. Furthermore, Anne demonstrated a keen interest in the menstrual cycles of the women in her social circle, often mentioning them in her journal.
As a rich data source, Anne's journals allow us to explore an often overlooked but significant aspect of daily life in the 19th-century concerning women's health.
Through a mix of expert insights, diary extracts, and guided discussion, this session ventures into this intimate territory, shedding light on period practices and management of the era.
With Anna Clark, Leila Straub, and Elissa Stein, facilitated by Mette Hildeman Sjölin
The spreadsheet below collates the details of Anne's menstrual cycles, encompassing changes in mood, health, and other symptoms directly associated with her 'cousin'. It also captures data provided by Anne regarding the menstrual cycles of individuals such as Ann Walker, Mariana Lawton (née Belcombe), Isabella Norcliffe, Vere Hobart, and others. This project aims to establish a valuable resource for those interested in the study of women's health during the 19th Century.
Periods, Symptoms, and Moods in Anne Lister's journals and papers
Anne Lister's journals include well documented menstruation cycles. Anne often notes when her period starts, how she prepares, and her sanitary practices during the cousin's visit. The spreadsheet below is a collaborative effort to compile all period references in Anne Lister's journals and papers.
Contributors
This project is made possible through ongoing contributions from the following people:
Adeline Lim
Amanda Pryce
Chloe Nacci
Dawn Susan
Erin Resso
Francesca Raia
Helen Childers
Jan Webster
Janneke Van der Weijden
Jenna Beyer
JY Jiang
Kathryn Williams
Leila Straub
Livia Labate
Lucia Falzari
Marlene Oliveira
Nga Huynh Phuong
Pauline M.
Shantel Smith
Steph Gallaway
Ylva Nilson
How to contribute to this project
Request access to edit the spreadsheet. Please include an email address that is associated with a Google account (this is the only requirement to participating in this project). If you don't have one, here's how to do it.
You will receive an email confirming you have editorial access.
Once granted access, you can add a new item to the bottom of the list.
Tip: Don't worry about redundancy; enter any information you have and we'll reconcile duplicates later.
All information in this spreadsheet is in English, but please preserve the spellings of Ann's nickname, as written by Anne Lister and others.
Anyone can help research and add additional information for each reference in this spreadsheet.