Mary Barbour

Mary Barbour (née Rough; 20 February 1875 – 2 April 1958) was a Scottish political activist, local councillor, bailie and magistrate. Barbour was closely associated with the Red Clydeside movement in the early 20th century and especially for her role as the main organiser of the women of Govan who took part in the rent strikes of 1915. The protesters became known as "Mrs Barbour's Army". She was also a founder of the Women's Peace Crusade. She stood as a Labour candidate and was elected to Glasgow Town Council in 1920, representing the Fairfield ward in Govan. She was one of the first female councillors in the city. She was also one of the first female bailies of Glasgow Corporation. She advocated for the provision of women's and children's health and welfare services.

On her 74th birthday, there was a special tribute to Barbour on the front page of The Govan Press newspaper. Recognition of the impact of her activism is still evident in Govan and across Glasgow today. There is a statue of her at Govan Cross. Murals depicting her with Isabella Elder, and reimagining her as a modern day campaigner have been commissioned in Govan. She is also included in the Clutha Bar mural.

She is remembered in popular culture, in the song Mrs Barbour's Army by Alistair Hulett and the play Mrs Barbour's Daughters by A.J. Taudevin. Barbour was the subject of one of the Not Forgotten series of documentaries on Channel Four in 2007. In 2012 Woman's Hour ran a profile about Barbour following the writing of a poem about her by Christine Finn for an exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.