The Girl's Realm

[3]: 166 The first issue of The Girl's Realm was published in November 1898 with the Irish journalist and children's author Alice Corkran as both a contributor and editor.

[10] Corkran was the editor for three years, resigning in early 1902 but remained involved with the magazine as a contributor and as the founder and guiding spirit of the Guild of Service and Good Fellowship.

[5]: 165 In A Chat with the Girl of the Period in Volume 1 of the magazine[note 2] Alice Corcoran defined here audience when she wrote to her readers that the modern girl is tired of being taken to see her brother play football, she wants to kick at it herself ... is tired of living in a doll's house ... will never take a back seat ... claims that she has as much right to a good education as her brothers ...wants to lead a professional life.

The Bristol Mercury complained of the first issue that it was absurd for one writer to talk of a girl of 17 being given a dress allowance of £100 as this would not be typical of the intended readership.

The guild supported a cot at the Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children, and also provided a scholarship to the Royal College of Music.

[23] In 1911 the Guild was fundraising for the King Edward Memorial Cottage where girl workers of gentle birth and limited means could take a holiday, either as invited guests or by paying a small contribution.

[26] The Guild survived the closure of the magazine, and fund-raising continued, including a Gilbert and Sullivan Bazaar at the Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent Square on 26 and 27 November 1920.

The Girl's Realm Guild office was at 2 Harrington Gardens in 1928, when it was selling tickets for the revival of L'Enfant Prodique, a French mime play, presumably a fund-raising event.