Celebrating the women in Johnson’s world

Published: 05 March 2016

The Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum is marking International Women’s Day and an exciting new addition to the collection with a special History Workshop this March. Many people know the story of Lichfield’s most famous son, but visitors to his family home on the Market Square may not know that the archives also contain fascinating items that give insight into the lives of the women in Johnson’s family, and his literary and local acquaintances. On Saturday March 5th at 2.00pm, Sue Bray will be sharing some of these stories and giving a glimpse into the life of women in Georgian Lichfield.

Using original documents and records as a starting point, Sue will lead the informal session, drawing on the lives of Tetty and Sarah Johnson, Catherine Chambers, Anna Seward and particularly Lucy Porter. The Birthplace Museum has recently been loaned a beautiful portrait of Lucy, Johnson’s step-daughter, as a child. The painting will go on display this Spring, but workshop attendees will have a chance to see Lucy during a behind-the-scenes visit. Museum curator Jo Wilson said “We’ve chosen to focus on the women in Johnson’s world for this workshop as the start of a series of events to celebrate this painting’s arrival. We are thrilled to be able to include more on Lucy in the displays - she was very close to Johnson, but also an interesting figure in Lichfield’s history as she often helped in the Breadmarket Street shop, and had Redcourt House built later in her life. Sue’s knowledge and enthusiasm for our local history will make this an unmissable session”

To book or for more information please Contact Us