Louisa Lumsden

Louisa Lumsden

Louisa Lumsden is remembered as the founder and inspiration of University Hall. She was a lifelong advocate for the progression of female education, inspired by her time at Girton College, Cambridge, having been one of the first five women to study there. Lumsden moved to St Andrews in 1877, where she was recruited as headmistress for St Leonards School. In 1895, she returned to St Andrews as the first warden of University Hall – the only residential hall for female students in Scotland at the time. Her vision was based on her time at Girton College, and was met with much opposition. Lumsden also fought for women’s rights more generally, serving as president of the Aberdeen Suffrage Society in her retirement.

womensta,womenofstandrews

1840

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Organisation

253

Louisa Lumsden

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Name: Louisa Lumsden D.O.B: 31 December, 1840 D.O.D: 2 January, 1935 Family origins: The seventh and youngest child of Clements Lumsden (d. 1853), advocate and writer to the signet, and his wife Jane Lumsden (d. 1853), daughter of James Forbes of Echt, Aberdeenshire Education: School in Cheltenham as a child, then Chateau de Koekelberg, a boarding school near Brussels for two years, and then a London finishing school. She enrolled at Edinburgh University when she heard of a course of lectures for women and worked tirelessly throughout the winter of 1868-9. In 1869 Louisa joined the group that is now known as the Girton Five, at the University of Cambridge. She passed the classical tripos in the third class in 1873. Profession: Following her graduation, Lumsden was appointed as a tutor in the classics department but resigned in 1875 due to clashes. In 1876 she became a classics teacher at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, before she was recruited in 1877 to head a new school for girls in St. Andrews – St Leonards. Lumsden resigned in 1882, despite pleas from the council to stay. She went on to become chair of Rhynie school board, and introduced physical education in Aberdeenshire rural schools. In 1895 she was asked to return to St Andrews as warden of a new hall for women, intended to replicate the Girton experience in Scotland. She resigned in 1900. In her retirement she became president of the Aberdeen Suffrage Association. Talents etc.: Private life/family life: Never married or had children, rumoured to have had a romantic attachment with Constance Maynard that ended in grief. (Professional) Role in St Andrews: Founder and inspiration of both St Leonards School and University Hall Headmistress of St. Leonards School Warden of University Hall Years in St Andrews: 1877-1882, 1895-1900 Involved in which fields of scholarship? (e.g. geology, philosophy and medicine) Most famous contribution(s) to scholarship /inventions/… 1 (i.e. in geology): Most famous contribution(s) to scholarship/inventions/… 2 (i.e. in philosophy): If you want to read one thing written by him/her, it should be: X Any political involvement? Suffragist Advocate for women’s right to education and careers Animal rights champion Spent the First World War recruiting and fund-raising Any religious involvement? She was a member of her parish church, and in her later life became one of ten vice-presidents of the non-partisan Scottish Churches’ League for Woman Suffrage Other societies/groups in St Andrews? Other societies/groups elsewhere? Leader of the Girton Five/Girton Pioneers Associated places in St Andrews: (e.g. home, lab, favourite spot) Possible human interest story 1: In her old age somebody asked her if, when St Leonards School began, she had imagined the great future it would have. She said no, she had never thought about it: 'I was far too hard at work laying foundations to have time to dream' (Grant, 149). Possible human interest story 2: Possible human interest story 3: Possible human interest story 4: Connected to other people in St Andrews or elsewhere?: Awards/Honours: She was awarded an LLD degree by St Andrews University in 1911 She was created DBE in recognition of her services to education Numbers: Other interesting/quirky facts (not necessarily related to subject areas): Any eye-witness testimony/stories: Biographical sources: (e.g. OxDNB, family memoir, other...) OxDNB Available images of the person: Available images of places/objects associated with the person: From OxDNB

1935