“Movement is Life” - Women’s League of Health & Beauty enamel badge (1930’s)
An early membership badge issued by the Women’s League of Health & Beauty (WLHB). This badge shows the iconic image of Peggy St. Lo, based on a photo of her doing a leap.
The WLHB was founded in 1930 by Mary (Mollie) Bagot-Stack (1883-1935) and it’s aim was to provide health and fitness classes for all women. The League’s inception wasn’t merely about introducing new fitness routines, it was a radical movement aiming to empower women within the growing 'physical culture' movement of the time.
The Women’s League of Health & Beauty was not just about exercise but was a movement, a declaration of independence from societal constraints. Mary’s vision was inclusive and radical for its time. Mary’s daughter, Prunella Stack, who became a torchbearer for her mother’s mission, often recounted Mary’s words, “Movement is life; life is movement” The League’s motto, “Fitness for all, regardless of age or status” was not just a catchy phrase but was the core ethos of the organisation. The League not only emphasised that ethos and an important principal of this was to provide low membership cost at 2s/6d (2 shillings & six pence) annual subscription fee, a one-off fee of 2/- to join the League and 6d (six pence) for each class attended.
On joining the League, members had to sign a pledge of six, promises:
" I promise on my honour that:
(1) I will try as far as possible to acquire some practical knowledge of the mechanism of the body.
(2) I will spend at least 15 minutes per day, or 11/4 hours per week, on practical health-building in the body, such as
walking, running, or sport, in the open air, or exercise indoors with windows open if possible.
(3) At night and in the morning I will think of and determine to acquire the healthy, fresh-air body, which is my ambition.
(4) I will do my best to co-operate in a friendly and helpful way with members of the League, and in the organization to accept all rulings of the committee.
(5) I will try to introduce at least two new members.
(6) I will buy at least one copy of each issue of the League's Official Organ Health and Beauty."
The organisation was an immediate success and by 1939 the League had it’s largest membership, exceeding 166,000. During the 1930’s the WLHB also developed internationally with rapid expansion throughout the British Commonwealth countries, Ireland and North America. The WLHB were very successful at publicity and often held open-air mass-formation classes, especially at notable venues such as Wembley and the ,i>Festival of Britain (1951). In 1990, the WLHB changed its name to The Fitness League and who are still active.
The formation of the WHLB and other physical fitness organisations were a product of their times. By the 1930’s, the concept of physical culture was firmly established across Europe and North America and the WLHB was an expression of that culture in England. There were many physical fitness organisations that catered separately for men and women, both voluntary and State sponsored. The ethos towards physical fitness and ‘the body beautiful’ was high on the public agenda at the time and became politicalised during the inter-war years when countries sought to improve the general health and fitness of their citizens. There was huge interest and funding for activities that “improved the fitness of the Nation” and this resulted in many new organisations and municipal facilities such as playing parks, swimming pools, etc during the 30’s. There were also developments in other recreational pursuits during the same period such as the founding of touring clubs, ramblers clubs, etc aimed at increasing social leisure and fitness.
The leaping figure of Peggy St. Lo forms the centrepiece of the WHLB’s logo and badge. Peggy was a gymnast and pupil of Mary Bagot-Stack. The photograph upon which this image was based was taken while doing one of her gymnastic routines and which became an iconic image of the 20th century. The motto of the WLHB was ‘Movement is Life’ taken from the first line of a short poem written by Mary. Membership badges like the one pictured above were optional and in 1930/31 they cost 2/- (two shillings) each. There is another more common version of this badge, an "economy" version of the same design and size but produced without any enamel.
.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/14626933.days-womens-league-h...
www.active-together.org/directory/the-fitness-league (In 1990 the WLHB changed their name to the Fitness League).
foundryfit.com/the-womens-league-of-health-beauty-revolut... (WLHB in a socio-economic context).
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/chm/calendar/they_had_such... (Another and excellent article about the WLHB in a socio-economic context).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bagot_Stack (Mary Bagot-Stack 1883-1935).
.
Size: 1 1/4” diameter (32mm)
Material: brass metal with 1 vitreous enamel.
Finish: tin wash (very thin plating).
Fitting: pin.
Imprint: FATTORINI & SONS LTD - BRADFORD WORKS - BIRMINGHAM
Approximate age: 1933 to 1939.
“Movement is Life” - Women’s League of Health & Beauty enamel badge (1930’s)
An early membership badge issued by the Women’s League of Health & Beauty (WLHB). This badge shows the iconic image of Peggy St. Lo, based on a photo of her doing a leap.
The WLHB was founded in 1930 by Mary (Mollie) Bagot-Stack (1883-1935) and it’s aim was to provide health and fitness classes for all women. The League’s inception wasn’t merely about introducing new fitness routines, it was a radical movement aiming to empower women within the growing 'physical culture' movement of the time.
The Women’s League of Health & Beauty was not just about exercise but was a movement, a declaration of independence from societal constraints. Mary’s vision was inclusive and radical for its time. Mary’s daughter, Prunella Stack, who became a torchbearer for her mother’s mission, often recounted Mary’s words, “Movement is life; life is movement” The League’s motto, “Fitness for all, regardless of age or status” was not just a catchy phrase but was the core ethos of the organisation. The League not only emphasised that ethos and an important principal of this was to provide low membership cost at 2s/6d (2 shillings & six pence) annual subscription fee, a one-off fee of 2/- to join the League and 6d (six pence) for each class attended.
On joining the League, members had to sign a pledge of six, promises:
" I promise on my honour that:
(1) I will try as far as possible to acquire some practical knowledge of the mechanism of the body.
(2) I will spend at least 15 minutes per day, or 11/4 hours per week, on practical health-building in the body, such as
walking, running, or sport, in the open air, or exercise indoors with windows open if possible.
(3) At night and in the morning I will think of and determine to acquire the healthy, fresh-air body, which is my ambition.
(4) I will do my best to co-operate in a friendly and helpful way with members of the League, and in the organization to accept all rulings of the committee.
(5) I will try to introduce at least two new members.
(6) I will buy at least one copy of each issue of the League's Official Organ Health and Beauty."
The organisation was an immediate success and by 1939 the League had it’s largest membership, exceeding 166,000. During the 1930’s the WLHB also developed internationally with rapid expansion throughout the British Commonwealth countries, Ireland and North America. The WLHB were very successful at publicity and often held open-air mass-formation classes, especially at notable venues such as Wembley and the ,i>Festival of Britain (1951). In 1990, the WLHB changed its name to The Fitness League and who are still active.
The formation of the WHLB and other physical fitness organisations were a product of their times. By the 1930’s, the concept of physical culture was firmly established across Europe and North America and the WLHB was an expression of that culture in England. There were many physical fitness organisations that catered separately for men and women, both voluntary and State sponsored. The ethos towards physical fitness and ‘the body beautiful’ was high on the public agenda at the time and became politicalised during the inter-war years when countries sought to improve the general health and fitness of their citizens. There was huge interest and funding for activities that “improved the fitness of the Nation” and this resulted in many new organisations and municipal facilities such as playing parks, swimming pools, etc during the 30’s. There were also developments in other recreational pursuits during the same period such as the founding of touring clubs, ramblers clubs, etc aimed at increasing social leisure and fitness.
The leaping figure of Peggy St. Lo forms the centrepiece of the WHLB’s logo and badge. Peggy was a gymnast and pupil of Mary Bagot-Stack. The photograph upon which this image was based was taken while doing one of her gymnastic routines and which became an iconic image of the 20th century. The motto of the WLHB was ‘Movement is Life’ taken from the first line of a short poem written by Mary. Membership badges like the one pictured above were optional and in 1930/31 they cost 2/- (two shillings) each. There is another more common version of this badge, an "economy" version of the same design and size but produced without any enamel.
.
www.heraldscotland.com/news/14626933.days-womens-league-h...
www.active-together.org/directory/the-fitness-league (In 1990 the WLHB changed their name to the Fitness League).
foundryfit.com/the-womens-league-of-health-beauty-revolut... (WLHB in a socio-economic context).
warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/history/chm/calendar/they_had_such... (Another and excellent article about the WLHB in a socio-economic context).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Bagot_Stack (Mary Bagot-Stack 1883-1935).
.
Size: 1 1/4” diameter (32mm)
Material: brass metal with 1 vitreous enamel.
Finish: tin wash (very thin plating).
Fitting: pin.
Imprint: FATTORINI & SONS LTD - BRADFORD WORKS - BIRMINGHAM
Approximate age: 1933 to 1939.