Mary Barbour 1875-1958

In 1915 Mary Barbour was actively involved in the Glasgow rent strikes, organising tenant committees and local women to drive out sheriff's officers and resist evictions. As a result the Rent Restrictions Act came into force. Mary Barbour became a Govan Legend.

In 1916 with Helen Crawfurd and Alice Dollan she founded the Women’s Peace Crusade.

In 1920 she was elected to Glasgow Town Council as their first Labour woman councillor, representing Govan Fairfield ward. She campaigned on and supported numerous issues including the introduction of municipal banks, wash-houses, laundries and baths; a pure milk supply free to schoolchildren, child welfare centres and play areas, home helps, and pensions for mothers.

As a supporter of birth control for married women, Mary pioneered the city's first family planning centre, the Women's Welfare and Advisory Clinic in 1926. This was staffed by female doctors and nurses.

After retiring from council work in 1931, she continued her activities on a range of housing, welfare and co-operative committees, and was later instrumental in setting up organised seaside outings for the children of poor families in Glasgow.