May Kendall

May Kendall was a poet, novelist and satirist who also played an important role in research into poverty in York.

Her relationship with the Rowntree family began through John Wilhelm Rowntree, and she later worked closely with Seebohm and Arnold Rowntree. In 1904, Kendall worked alongside Arnold and Seebohm to explore ways of reducing poverty in York. This led to a closer working relationship with Seebohm, supporting his research into poverty and possible solutions to it.

Kendall also contributed to Seebohm Rowntree’s publications. She carried out research in York for his books and was credited as a co-author of How the Labourer Lives. She was particularly well known for rewriting and simplifying Seebohm’s work, making it more accessible to people with less formal education. Her contribution helped to make his publications more widely understood and popular.

In 1908, Kendall became one of the founders of the York branch of the Fabian Society, alongside Frank Rowntree and Bruno Lasker.

Kendall was described by many as ‘eccentric’. She lived for many years in a small attic flat on Monkgate in York, where she kept a large number of cats. In her later years, a chronic illness prevented her from working as much as she had previously. The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) supported her care during this period and later paid for her funeral following her death in 1943.