1 00:00:08,630 --> 00:00:18,330 Hello. With many college principals and their views on degrees 1879 to 1920. 2 00:00:18,330 --> 00:00:25,020 During the 41 years from the foundation of the five women's colleges, up to 1920, 3 00:00:25,020 --> 00:00:34,310 just 10 women held the position of principle to being in per host for 29 and 30 years, respectively. 4 00:00:34,310 --> 00:00:47,820 Their views on degrees for women were not uniform. For example, we can compare the approach of Elizabeth Wordsworth, Ella M.H. principal from 1879. 5 00:00:47,820 --> 00:00:53,200 With that of Emily Penrose, third principal of Somerville. 6 00:00:53,200 --> 00:01:00,460 Wordsworth famously remarked, If women did the work, that was the great thing. 7 00:01:00,460 --> 00:01:13,370 Sooner or later, they would get the credit for it. Her comments are markedly different from those of Emily Penrhos, when, not if the degree comes, 8 00:01:13,370 --> 00:01:20,130 the strongest argument will be the number of students qualified to receive it. 9 00:01:20,130 --> 00:01:30,340 In fact, by 1914, Penrose was refusing to accept students unprepared to undertake work for a degree. 10 00:01:30,340 --> 00:01:33,820 This contrast between Wordsworth and Penrhos, 11 00:01:33,820 --> 00:01:45,700 the two future days was similar to the differing approaches in Cambridge of a class at Newnham and Emily Davis, a Gertten. 12 00:01:45,700 --> 00:01:51,700 Who were these 10 principals? Elizabeth Wordsworth at them, H. 13 00:01:51,700 --> 00:01:58,700 Madeline assured a fever at Somerville far hundred like H in 1879. 14 00:01:58,700 --> 00:02:10,840 Annie Moberly at St. Hugh's 1886. Bertha Johnson at the Society of Home Students Later Suntans, founded in 1893. 15 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:17,720 And Esther Burrowes at St Hilda's, also created in 1893. 16 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:22,490 Best excesses were Henrietta, Jex, Blake and H. 17 00:02:22,490 --> 00:02:27,980 Agnes Maitland and then Emily Penrose at Somerville. 18 00:02:27,980 --> 00:02:35,300 Christine Burrows, St Hilda's and Eleanor Jordan, said Hughes. 19 00:02:35,300 --> 00:02:44,320 Although Oxford women weren't granted degree ease until 1920, there had been useful steps along the way. 20 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:52,000 In 1880, for a statute admitted women to some university examinations, 21 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:59,970 the remainder including medicine and jurisprudence following suit over the next 10 years. 22 00:02:59,970 --> 00:03:10,300 More significantly, in 1896, a petition was put to the university for Women's Admission to the B.A. degree. 23 00:03:10,300 --> 00:03:19,500 A vocal minority of key individuals in the Association for the Higher Education of Women was strongly opposed. 24 00:03:19,500 --> 00:03:28,540 And that their voice influenced congregation. The vote being lost by 215 to 140. 25 00:03:28,540 --> 00:03:36,850 Some opponents even proposed setting up a women's university somewhere in England. 26 00:03:36,850 --> 00:03:47,430 Yet, although the attempt to secure degrees failed in 1896, it was a powerful factor in maintaining a public profile. 27 00:03:47,430 --> 00:03:57,220 And for 1989, when the forward thinking new chance to the Lord Curzon requested an early discussion on women's degrees, 28 00:03:57,220 --> 00:04:02,050 the machinery was set in motion, which would end in success. 29 00:04:02,050 --> 00:04:10,610 In 1920. Taking the principles overall, most supported degrees, 30 00:04:10,610 --> 00:04:18,710 Elizabeth Wordsworth and Bertha Johnson standing out as initial reluctant adopters of the movement. 31 00:04:18,710 --> 00:04:30,180 I'd like to focus first on Wordsworth and Johnson and then look at the principals who were in favour using Penrhos as the main player. 32 00:04:30,180 --> 00:04:36,640 Wordsworth, great niece of the poet and daughter of the bishop of Lincoln, 33 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:44,410 had no formal education herself but benefited from a highly intellectual family background. 34 00:04:44,410 --> 00:04:53,970 She was witty, bright and outspoken and came to LNH armed with an impressive address book. 35 00:04:53,970 --> 00:05:02,670 Her aim was to guide students for their future lives in the context of a close knit family like Bates. 36 00:05:02,670 --> 00:05:08,700 She didn't have a clear plan for a future college on an equal footing with men's. 37 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:17,440 Nor did she actively campaign for women's degrees. Her goal was education for enjoyment, 38 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:27,950 so women could better play that role in the existing order and participate in the intellectual pursuits of an educated home. 39 00:05:27,950 --> 00:05:40,020 She wasn't interested in vocational education, wanting to turn out girls, as she said, so that they would be capable of making homes happy. 40 00:05:40,020 --> 00:05:51,520 Her ideal woman was, again, I quote, better with four hands than with the head and Bestival with the heart. 41 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:59,160 In 1896 was worth Lennert towards the proposal for a diploma for women. 42 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,660 Not requiring study of Latin and Greek. 43 00:06:03,660 --> 00:06:12,930 She had an aversion to controversy and on the much discussed subject of the degree, Wordsworth rather cleverly hedged her bet. 44 00:06:12,930 --> 00:06:17,700 It's presenting an equivocal front. 45 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:29,370 Bertha Johnson, principal of the Society of Home Students, dedicated the 50 years of her working life to women's higher education in Oxford. 46 00:06:29,370 --> 00:06:35,280 By 1915, most of the first generation of principals had retired. 47 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:40,690 But Johnson remained at St Ann's until 1921. 48 00:06:40,690 --> 00:06:50,860 She was significantly more proactive on the subject of the degree than words worth declaring her opposition in 1895. 49 00:06:50,860 --> 00:06:54,840 In a detailed and strong worded speech. 50 00:06:54,840 --> 00:07:06,540 I confess, it is a great surprise to me to find myself amongst those who hang back when there seems to be a question of some new privilege for women. 51 00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:15,300 Her argument was because women didn't have to study Greek and Latin obligatory components of a degree course. 52 00:07:15,300 --> 00:07:22,470 Then why? For what? According to her, were erroneously called equal rights. 53 00:07:22,470 --> 00:07:34,330 Should women have to follow men in studying classics involving substantial work, given most girls schools didn't teach Latin or Greek? 54 00:07:34,330 --> 00:07:42,280 Johnson called the degree a red ribbon and a boot fit made to fit men. 55 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:54,220 This is our liberty and we have prised it, she continued, adding that the lack of a degree had never proved a hindrance for any woman she knew. 56 00:07:54,220 --> 00:08:00,880 So Johnson was part of the vocal minority who opposed the granting of degrees. 57 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:15,680 Her husband, Arthur, fellow of all souls in total for public agreement, championing the cause was Emily Penrhos, Somerville principal from 1987. 58 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:26,270 Having previously been principal of both Bedford and then Royal Holloway College is in London with London already awarding degrees to women. 59 00:08:26,270 --> 00:08:30,660 She was accustomed to seeing her students graduate. 60 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:42,060 Renowned for her quality of statesmanship, Penrose was an alumna of Somerville and had been professor of ancient history at Bedford College. 61 00:08:42,060 --> 00:08:47,350 So she worked with Oxford Dons as academic equal. 62 00:08:47,350 --> 00:08:59,500 Like her peers amongst the women principals, Penrhos typically exercised caution as a strategy advising her students in 1915 on their behaviour. 63 00:08:59,500 --> 00:09:13,240 It rests with you either by a little thoughtlessness or carelessness or forgetfulness to do a grievous harm to Somerville or to make it your business. 64 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:25,250 But the fear of any critics shall be groundless. Her determination that some of your students should be prepared was vindicated when hers was the 65 00:09:25,250 --> 00:09:35,450 college with the largest number qualified to receive degrees 300 being ready to graduate in 1920. 66 00:09:35,450 --> 00:09:41,300 What led most of the principals to support the calls for call for degrees? 67 00:09:41,300 --> 00:09:51,210 We can attribute this vision to two main strands. Changes in women's higher education and personal experience. 68 00:09:51,210 --> 00:09:59,130 Since the mid eighteen hundreds. Development of women's higher education in the U.K. had been significant. 69 00:09:59,130 --> 00:10:07,100 Following on from the Second Sisters in the US, which had grown up from 1837 onwards. 70 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:18,520 All over the country where ladies educational associations, organising lectures and preparing the way for women to study at university. 71 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:27,190 Formal institutions. Julian. Queens and Bedford colleges in London in the mid 19th. 72 00:10:27,190 --> 00:10:35,950 Were followed by Westfield and Royal Holloway Colleges. And from 1880, all London women graduated. 73 00:10:35,950 --> 00:10:43,850 By nineteen hundred most universities granted degrees to women Durran in 1895, 74 00:10:43,850 --> 00:10:52,290 being the final university in England, apart from Oxford and Cambridge, to allow women to graduate. 75 00:10:52,290 --> 00:10:58,980 Along with parallel campaigns for women on suffrage, neagle rights and paid work. 76 00:10:58,980 --> 00:11:08,080 Widespread national progress in higher education was a driver for the Oxford campaign. 77 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:14,920 The second major factor is strengthening the principal's resolve was personal experience, 78 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:22,750 in contrast to the first five principals with minimal secondary and no tertiary education. 79 00:11:22,750 --> 00:11:32,890 Three major principals, Christine Burrowes, Eleanor Jordan and Emily Penrhos had been students all at Oxford. 80 00:11:32,890 --> 00:11:37,630 So they were campaigning for themselves as well as their students. 81 00:11:37,630 --> 00:11:44,860 In fact, Eleanor Jordaan already had a degree, a doctorate from the University of Paris. 82 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:56,520 And Henry interjects Blake and Eleanor Jordan, formerly had mistresses, had witnessed substantial progress in girls secondary education. 83 00:11:56,520 --> 00:12:07,550 As individuals, the principles were ambitious for their students and colleges and didn't like lagging behind other universities. 84 00:12:07,550 --> 00:12:20,110 In marked contrast with Wordsworth worth Moberly, Exit Hughes ensured right from 1886 that her students take the full degree course. 85 00:12:20,110 --> 00:12:31,720 An important impetus was the strong support, the principles enjoyed from the leading male academics since the early days of women's higher education. 86 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:44,780 Key Oxford academics were at the forefront Cheiron college councils hosting women principals to dinner and giving individual encouragement. 87 00:12:44,780 --> 00:12:53,940 14TH of October, 1920, the day when degrees were finally granted to women, was a stellar occasion. 88 00:12:53,940 --> 00:13:01,260 With the university no longer demanding that some in Greek birth, Johnson felt the time was ripe, 89 00:13:01,260 --> 00:13:07,080 so she happily that the five women principals into the Sheldonian to receive their M. 90 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:18,160 A's. Though she refused to wear a white blouse, preferring to retain her customary high necked black woman. 91 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:23,610 Very, Britain recounts. When the Great South Doors opened, 92 00:13:23,610 --> 00:13:30,450 the five women principals arrayed for the first time in caps and gowns entered with Mrs. 93 00:13:30,450 --> 00:13:40,570 Johnson supported by her Ebony stick but proudly erect in her jue place at their head. 94 00:13:40,570 --> 00:13:49,360 After a second silence, the theatre rang with unrehearsed applause and the vice chancellor rose to 95 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:57,800 receive the first women masters of Arts ever to appear in that historic place. 96 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:09,250 Words were eventually about the inevitable. But it's intriguing that no record has been found of her reaction to the granting of degrees. 97 00:14:09,250 --> 00:14:22,760 The supreme irony of her initial indifference is highlighted in this 1928 picture taken after her award of an honorary doctorate of civil law. 98 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:28,820 She remarked with characteristic wit make making a scarlet woman of me at my age. 99 00:14:28,820 --> 00:14:37,010 Mr. Vice Chancellor, on 24th October 1920. 100 00:14:37,010 --> 00:14:45,380 She had also graciously received an honorary M.A. when all members of convocation rose to their feet. 101 00:14:45,380 --> 00:14:51,940 A welcome never previously extended to any individual. 102 00:14:51,940 --> 00:14:57,040 Unfortunately, just seven years after women were 52 degrees, 103 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:08,170 there was a backlash when a formidable sounding statute for the rotation of numbers was imposed, not removed for 32 years. 104 00:15:08,170 --> 00:15:17,310 Despite much protest from women and their supporters, this limited women's students to one sixth of the numbers of men. 105 00:15:17,310 --> 00:15:20,140 Eight hundred and forty. 106 00:15:20,140 --> 00:15:31,500 It's sobering to read what the warden of Wadham, Joseph Wells, formerly Oxford vice chancellor, wrote just before the statute was passed. 107 00:15:31,500 --> 00:15:45,390 It was never even suggested in 1896, in 1989 or in 1920 that the women's societies were to enjoy the unrestricted rights of men's colleges. 108 00:15:45,390 --> 00:15:54,300 Oxford was to remain a man's university to the full membership of which some women were admitted. 109 00:15:54,300 --> 00:16:04,960 I hope that congregation on Tuesday will affirm that this is still the principle on which we welcome students here. 110 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:09,640 In 1959, the statute was revoked. 111 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:22,270 The five colleges achieved full collegiate status. Those long 80 years since women's colleges began had seen impressive progress. 112 00:16:22,270 --> 00:16:25,360 Intriguingly, in 1956, 113 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:36,730 Christine Burrows was asked if the eighteen seventies pioneers could ever have visualised the 1950s equality between men and women students. 114 00:16:36,730 --> 00:16:43,450 She replied emphatically, Oh, no, they would not have approved of it in those days. 115 00:16:43,450 --> 00:16:48,180 It would not have been thought right and proper. 116 00:16:48,180 --> 00:16:59,460 We can only speculate on the reaction of our early principles, if they could have visualised that less than 100 years after the degree was granted. 117 00:16:59,460 --> 00:17:12,490 Oxford would have its first female vice chancellor under 18 out of the 38 heads of House, a whisker away from 50 percent would be female. 118 00:17:12,490 --> 00:17:21,240 We can fantasise that with an eye to progress, for the most part, what their reaction would have been, wholehearted approval, 119 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:31,210 and that they would have thought both developments borrowing the words of Christine Burrow's to be right and proper. 120 00:17:31,210 --> 00:17:33,417 Thank you.