Doris Nield Chew (1898-1984) was born in 1898, the daughter of the trade unionist and pacifist Ada Nield Chew and her husband George Chew. Prior to starting school late at the age of seven, she was frequently taken on campaigns for the Women's Trade Union League with her mother. She was educated at Manchester University where she took a degree in history. She subsequently became a history teacher at various secondary schools including Burnley High School (1926-1958) where she worked until her retirement. Following her retirement, she travelled extensively before returning to the United Kingdom.
Doris herself was herself involved with peace campaigns, and was a member of the Burnley LNU and Peace Council. She was also involved in local politics, and her positions included Secretary for the NUT and Honorary Secretary for the Mid-Pennine Association for the Arts. Furthermore, she was also a Justice of the Peace from 1947 to 1971, the year in which she received an MBE.
She published a biography and a collection of her mother's writings with Virago in 1982 as 'The life and writings of Ada Nield'. This was later adapted into a television drama by Granada in 1983. However, she was unsuccessful in publishing a number of other manuscripts in later life.
She died in 1984.
From the guide to the Papers of Doris Nield Chew, 1925-1984, (The Women's Library)
