Maud Sellers (1861-1939) was the first female member of The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York in nearly 400 years; she was made an Honorary Member in 1913 and became the Honorary Curator of the Hall in 1918. Born in Harrogate and educated at Newnham College, Cambridge, she obtained her doctorate in history from Trinity College, Dublin in 1907. As curator of the Merchant Adventurers Hall, she worked tirelessly to restore the building and, as archivist and historian of the YMA company, she collated its account rolls and minute books, and transcribed, translated and published significant quantities of York and Yorkshire medieval archives. Her publications include the books The York Mercers and Merchant Adventurers 1356-1917 (Surtees Society, vol cxxix, 1918) and The Acts and Ordinances of the Eastland Company, as well as numerous articles for the Surtees Society.
References
Merchant Adventurers Hall Highlights: http://www.merchantshallyork.org/hall-highlights-dr-maud-sellers/
Profile, York Cocoa Works Magazine, Easter 1931, p. 714, Borthwick Institute, Rowntree Archives.
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