Paul Kenna VC IWM Q66151, Imperial War Museum

Christina Broom (née Livingston) was a pioneering British photographer who was born on 23 December 1862 and died on 15 June 1939. She is best known for her extensive documentation of London street scenes, events and portraits in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Christina Broom is regarded as one of the first female press photographers in Britain. Broom began her photographic career in her 40s, around 1903, and her work focused primarily on capturing life and events in and around London. She used large glass plate negatives to create her images, a common practice at the time. Broom's subjects ranged from suffragette rallies and sporting events to royal ceremonies and military parades. One of her most notable contributions was her coverage of the suffragette movement in the early 20th century. Broom documented various events related to the suffragettes, including protests, marches and key figures in the movement. Her photographs provide a valuable historical insight into the struggle for women's rights during this period. Christina Broom's work gained recognition and she became the official photographer for the Household Division of the British Army. She held this post from 1904 until her death in 1939. Broom's daughter, Winifred, assisted her in the business and they ran a successful photographic studio. While Christina Broom's work was highly regarded during her lifetime, her contribution to the history of photography and her documentation of important social and historical events has been increasingly recognised and appreciated in recent years. Her photographs are now considered valuable historical artefacts, offering a unique perspective on early 20th century London and its vibrant social and political life.