The Centenary of the WEA

Only two people were present at the inaugural meeting of the Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men on May 16th, 1903: Albert Mansbridge, an upwardly mobile civil servant, and Frances his wife. In this symbolic meeting at their terraced house, Frances famously contributed 2s.6d. from her housekeeping money as a working fund and voted Albert ‘hon. sec. pro tem’. Two years later, during a Birmingham conference attended by 600 delegates and 400 visitors, the less sexist and more felicitous title of ‘Workers’ Educational Association’, or WEA, was adopted. The WEA celebrates its centenary this year.