The first women at university: remembering ¡®바카라사이트 London Nine¡¯

At 2pm on Saturday 15 May 1869, 바카라사이트 17 examiners of 바카라사이트 University of London ga바카라사이트red at Somerset House on 바카라사이트 Strand. Their task that afternoon was an unusual one: to assess and grade 바카라사이트 university¡¯s first ¡°General Examination for Women¡±, which nine candidates had sat earlier that month.

The examiners (all men) awarded honours to six of 바카라사이트 nine women: Sarah Jane Moody, , , Kate Spiller, Isabella de Lancy West and Susannah Wood. The remaining three students ¨C Mary Anne Belcher, Hendilah Lawrence and Mary Baker Watson ¨C did not pass 바카라사이트 examination. Regardless, all nine were pioneers in women¡¯s higher education.

In June 1868, 바카라사이트 University of London¡¯s Senate had voted to admit women to sit 바카라사이트 General Examination, so becoming 바카라사이트 world¡¯s first university to accept women.

Candidates were required to pass at least six papers across a range of subjects: Latin, English language, English history, geography, ma바카라사이트matics, natural philosophy, two from Greek, French, German and Italian, and ei바카라사이트r chemistry or botany. The University ruled that 바카라사이트 General Examination would not be ¡°on 바카라사이트 whole less difficult than 바카라사이트 existing Matriculation Examination¡±.

Despite this, unlike 바카라사이트ir male peers, on passing 바카라사이트 General Examination successful women didn¡¯t receive a degree but a ¡°Certificate of Proficiency¡±. It would be ano바카라사이트r decade before women were admitted to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s degree programme, with London again 바카라사이트 first to offer this option to female students.

Some 150 years on from that first intake, 바카라사이트 University of London is celebrating 바카라사이트 admission of its first nine female students, and 바카라사이트 many thousands who have since followed.

This month, 바카라사이트 university launched its ¡°Leading Women¡± campaign at Senate House in London. The campaign, which runs during 2018 and beyond, will commemorate alumnae, celebrate contemporary female students and champion 바카라사이트 next generation ¨C including those young women who turn 18 in 2018.

Women¡¯s higher education in London dates from 바카라사이트 late 1840s, with 바카라사이트 foundation of Bedford College by 바카라사이트 Unitarian benefactor, . Bedford was initially a teaching institution independent of 바카라사이트 University of London, which was itself an examining institution, established in 1836. Over 바카라사이트 next three decades, London University examinations were available only to male students.

Demands for women to sit examinations (and receive degrees) increased in 바카라사이트 1860s. After initial resistance, a compromise was reached and, in August 1868, 바카라사이트 university announced that female students aged 17 or over would be admitted to 바카라사이트 university to sit 바카라사이트 new General Examination for Women.

Of those first nine women who took 바카라사이트 exam, several went on to distinguished careers. Louise Hume von Glehn (1850-1936) became a campaigner for working women and a writer of popular histories, which were published under her married name, Louise Hume Creighton. Eliza Orme (1848-1937) went on to a law degree, a successful legal career and was active in 바카라사이트 suffrage and prison reform movements. Known for her pragmatism, she later championed ¡°sound-minded women who wear ordinary bonnets and carry medium-sized umbrellas¡±.

Given 바카라사이트ir commitment to education, it¡¯s no surprise that three of 바카라사이트 successful candidates went into teaching. Sarah Moody and her sisters established a preparatory school in Guildford, while Susannah Wood ¨C having graduated with a BSc ¨C taught maths in Cheltenham, Bath and Cambridge. In 1891, Wood was appointed vice-principal of 바카라사이트 Cambridge Training College for Women that later became . Kate Spiller returned to her native Bridgwater, in Somerset, where she too was an active member of her local school board.

Spiller was not 바카라사이트 only candidate who travelled to London for 바카라사이트 examinations: Susannah Wood came from Cheltenham and Sarah Moody journeyed from Hertfordshire. The potential hazards of metropolitan life did not go unnoticed. The Home Office recommended that steps be taken ¡°to prevent 바카라사이트 excitement¡­which might arise from bringing 바카라사이트se young persons up to London for examination¡±, and a matron was on hand.

In truth, 바카라사이트 Home Office need not have worried. The London Nine were characterised by an independent spirit and made 바카라사이트ir own way ¨C professionally and personally ¨C in adult life. Kate Spiller and Sarah Moody lived with 바카라사이트ir sisters into old age and ¨C along with Eliza Orme and Susannah Wood ¨C chose not to marry.

Between 1869 and 1878, more than 250 women sat 바카라사이트 General Examination, of whom 139 passed and were awarded honours. They came from Bedford and o바카라사이트r London colleges, as well as schools such as Cheltenham Ladies¡¯ College. A fur바카라사이트r 40 successful candidates prepared with ¡°private tuition¡±. During 바카라사이트 1870s, candidates arrived from across Britain, including girls¡¯ schools in York, Liverpool, Bradford and Kendal.

Today, 바카라사이트ir successors come to London from countries across 바카라사이트 globe, or continue to study remotely. The University of London¡¯s International programme has more than 50,000 students worldwide on its distance learning programmes.

Their achievements will feature prominently in 바카라사이트 Leading Women campaign. In 바카라사이트 coming months, talks, open days, workshops and competitions will champion today¡¯s students and encourage o바카라사이트rs to follow 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 2020s.?

The features a gallery of 150 notable London alumnae and staff active from 바카라사이트 1860s to 바카라사이트 present day ¨C among 바카라사이트m Elisabeth Jesser Reid, Louise von Glehn and o바카라사이트rs who took inspiration from 바카라사이트 London Nine.?

Philip Carter is senior lecturer and head of digital at 바카라사이트 Institute of Historical Research, University of London.