Katharine Jex-Blake
Encyclopedia
Katharine Jex-Blake was an English
classical scholar, mistress of Girton College, Cambridge
.
, one of nine daughters and two sons of Thomas Jex-Blake
(1832-1915), the school master and later head master at Rugby school and his wife Henrietta Cordery. Her aunt was Sophia Jex-Blake
. She was educated with her sisters at Rugby School before reading classics at Girton College, Cambridge
, 1879-1883.
, a school owed by the Girls' Public Day School Trust
. In 1885 she returned to Girton as the Resident Classics lecturer, later becoming the Director of Studies in Classics from 1901– 1919; Vice-Mistress, 1903– 1916; and Mistress of the College,1916 – 1922. In 1896 she published a translation of Pliny the Elder
's Chapters on the History of Art in collaboration with her friend Eugenie Sellers.
Her influence extended beyond Girton as some her students became the classic lecturers at Girton, Newnham College, Bedford College, Royal Holloway, Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall in the 1920s.
and was later elected a vice-president of the Trust. She died at Hurstpierpoint
, Sussex
in 1951.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
classical scholar, mistress of Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
.
Early life
Katharine Jex-Blake was born in 1860 at Rugby SchoolRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, one of nine daughters and two sons of Thomas Jex-Blake
Thomas Jex-Blake
The Very Rev Dr Thomas William Jex-Blake was an eminent Anglican clergyman and educationalist.He was born in 1832 the son of lawyer Thomas Jex-Blake and the brother of Sophia Jex-Blake and educated at Rugby and University College, Oxford. He began a career as a school master at Marlborough and was...
(1832-1915), the school master and later head master at Rugby school and his wife Henrietta Cordery. Her aunt was Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Jex-Blake
Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake was an English physician, teacher and feminist. She was one of the first female doctors in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, a leading campaigner for medical education for women and was involved in founding two medical schools for women, in London and in...
. She was educated with her sisters at Rugby School before reading classics at Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College, Cambridge
Girton College is one of the 31 constituent colleges of the University of Cambridge. It was England's first residential women's college, established in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. The full college status was only received in 1948 and marked the official admittance of women to the...
, 1879-1883.
Career
She then taught for a year at Notting Hill and Bayswater High SchoolNotting Hill & Ealing High School
Notting Hill and Ealing High School is an independent school for girls aged 4 - 18, located in West Ealing, a suburb of London. Founded in 1873 it is one of the 26 schools that make up the Girls' Day School Trust...
, a school owed by the Girls' Public Day School Trust
Girls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust is a group of 26 independent schools - 24 schools and two Academies - in England and Wales, catering for pupils aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year...
. In 1885 she returned to Girton as the Resident Classics lecturer, later becoming the Director of Studies in Classics from 1901– 1919; Vice-Mistress, 1903– 1916; and Mistress of the College,1916 – 1922. In 1896 she published a translation of Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
's Chapters on the History of Art in collaboration with her friend Eugenie Sellers.
Her influence extended beyond Girton as some her students became the classic lecturers at Girton, Newnham College, Bedford College, Royal Holloway, Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall in the 1920s.
Retirement
Upon her retirement in 1922, Katharine Jex-Blake donated a sum for what became the Jex-Blake fellowship. She became a governor of the College and also sat on its Council. She was made an honorary fellow in 1932. From 1925-1937 she was an active member of the Council of her former employers, the Girls' Public Day School TrustGirls' Day School Trust
The Girls' Day School Trust is a group of 26 independent schools - 24 schools and two Academies - in England and Wales, catering for pupils aged 3 to 18. It is the largest group of independent schools in the UK, and educates 20,000 girls each year...
and was later elected a vice-president of the Trust. She died at Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint
Hurstpierpoint is a village in the Mid Sussex district of West Sussex, England. Together with Sayers Common it forms one of the Mid Sussex civil parishes, with an area of 2029.88 ha and a population of 6,264 persons....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in 1951.
Works
- (transl. with Eugenie Sellers) PlinyPliny the ElderGaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
's Chapters on the History of Art (1896)
Personal Papers
Norfolk Record Office holds correspondence between Katharine and her sisters, Henrietta and Violet Jex-Blake, in the papers of the Jex-Blake family (REF: MC 233/36).External links
- Biographical sketch at Girton College website