Louisa Stevenson
Encyclopedia
Louisa Stevenson was a Scottish
campaigner for women's university education, women's suffrage and effective, well-organised nursing.
, the daughter of James Stevenson (1786–1866), a merchant of Glasgow and his wife Jane Stewart Shannan, daughter of Alexander Shannan, a merchant of Greenock. Louisa was one of a large family including her fellow-campaigner and sister Flora
, the architect John James Stevenson, and MP James Cochran Stevenson
. The family moved to Jarrow
in 1844 when James Stevenson became partner in a chemical works. After he retired in 1854 the family moved to Edinburgh
shortly before Mrs Stevenson died, and in 1859 they settled in a house in Randolph Crescent where Louisa, Flora, Elisa Stevenson (1829–1904), an early suffragist, and Jane Stevenson (1828–1904) spent the rest of their lives. Jane was a strong influence within the family but did not join in her sisters' activities beyond the home. After their father died leaving them comfortably off they were able to contribute financially to various causes.
or EAUEW) and in 1868 she and Flora attended the first course of lectures for women given by Professor David Masson
. This was the time when Sophia Jex-Blake
was starting her campaign
to open up medical education to women and Stevenson was honorary treasurer of a committee formed to support Jex-Blake and help with her legal costs. Stevenson's role in the EAUEW led to her giving evidence to a Commission on University Education, so contributing to the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 which meant that Scottish universities were open to women students from 1892. This led to fund-raising for a women's hall of residence at Edinburgh University, the Masson Hall, which opened in 1897 with Louisa Stevenson as honorary secretary.
She also contributed to education by co-founding the Edinburgh School of Cookery with Christian Edington Guthrie Wright (1844–1907) and encouraging the establishment of similar schools in other towns. The Edinburgh School was a forerunner of Queen Margaret University.
Stevenson took a particular interest in the standard of nursing at the poorhouse
in her position as the first female poor law
guardian in the city. She helped manage the Jubilee Nurses Institute (for District Nurse
s) and the Colonial Nursing Organisation (nurses needed in various parts of the British Empire
), and was also President of the Society for the State Registration of Trained Nurses.
. She believed that women's qualifications for helping with hospital management were equal to men's though each sex might bring somewhat different experience to the task.
All her life, Louisa Stevenson supported the cause of women's suffrage
and she was an executive committee member of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies in the 1890s. In the last years of her life she met Prime Minister
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
as part of a deputation of women's suffragists, and in that same year, 1906, she received an honorary degree of LLD
from Edinburgh University. She died on 13 May 1908, at home in Edinburgh.
The British Journal of Nursing attributed her success in everything she did to her "genial courtesy", "indomitable perseverance" and a "thorough grasp of the subject in hand".
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
campaigner for women's university education, women's suffrage and effective, well-organised nursing.
Family
Stevenson was born at GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, the daughter of James Stevenson (1786–1866), a merchant of Glasgow and his wife Jane Stewart Shannan, daughter of Alexander Shannan, a merchant of Greenock. Louisa was one of a large family including her fellow-campaigner and sister Flora
Flora Stevenson
Flora Clift Stevenson was a Scottish social reformer with a special interest in education for poor or neglected children, and in education for girls. She was one of the first women in the United Kingdom to be elected to a school board...
, the architect John James Stevenson, and MP James Cochran Stevenson
James Cochran Stevenson
James Cochran Stevenson was an English industrialist at Tyneside and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1895....
. The family moved to Jarrow
Jarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
in 1844 when James Stevenson became partner in a chemical works. After he retired in 1854 the family moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
shortly before Mrs Stevenson died, and in 1859 they settled in a house in Randolph Crescent where Louisa, Flora, Elisa Stevenson (1829–1904), an early suffragist, and Jane Stevenson (1828–1904) spent the rest of their lives. Jane was a strong influence within the family but did not join in her sisters' activities beyond the home. After their father died leaving them comfortably off they were able to contribute financially to various causes.
Education and nursing
Louisa Stevenson was a member of the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association (which later became the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of WomenEdinburgh Association for the University Education of Women
The Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women , originally known as the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association , campaigned for higher education for women from 1867 until 1892 when Scottish universities started to admit female students...
or EAUEW) and in 1868 she and Flora attended the first course of lectures for women given by Professor David Masson
David Masson
David Masson , was a Scottish writer.He was born in Aberdeen, and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen. Intending to enter the Church, he proceeded to Edinburgh University, where he studied theology under Dr Thomas Chalmers, with whom he remained...
. This was the time when 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...
was starting her campaign
Edinburgh Seven
The Edinburgh Seven were the first group of women medical students at a university in the United Kingdom. They fought to study medicine at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and to be allowed to graduate. In 1869 they were allowed to attend specially-arranged classes, but in 1873 they lost a legal...
to open up medical education to women and Stevenson was honorary treasurer of a committee formed to support Jex-Blake and help with her legal costs. Stevenson's role in the EAUEW led to her giving evidence to a Commission on University Education, so contributing to the Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 which meant that Scottish universities were open to women students from 1892. This led to fund-raising for a women's hall of residence at Edinburgh University, the Masson Hall, which opened in 1897 with Louisa Stevenson as honorary secretary.
She also contributed to education by co-founding the Edinburgh School of Cookery with Christian Edington Guthrie Wright (1844–1907) and encouraging the establishment of similar schools in other towns. The Edinburgh School was a forerunner of Queen Margaret University.
Stevenson took a particular interest in the standard of nursing at the poorhouse
Poorhouse
A poorhouse or workhouse was a government-run facility in the past for the support and housing of dependent or needy persons, typically run by a local government entity such as a county or municipality....
in her position as the first female poor law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
guardian in the city. She helped manage the Jubilee Nurses Institute (for District Nurse
District nurse
District Nurses are senior nurses who manage care within the community, leading teams of community nurses and support workers. Typically much of their work involves visiting house-bound patients to provide advice and care, for example, palliative care, wound management, catheter and continence...
s) and the Colonial Nursing Organisation (nurses needed in various parts of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
), and was also President of the Society for the State Registration of Trained Nurses.
Other interests
While her sister Flora was one of the first women ever to serve on a school board, Louisa was one of the first women elected to a hospital board, and her work was so valuable that she changed the attitude of one male board member who had at first been opposed to the idea of a woman helping to run the Edinburgh Royal InfirmaryEdinburgh Royal Infirmary
The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh or RIE, sometimes mistakenly referred to as Edinburgh Royal Infirmary or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest voluntary hospital in the United Kingdom, and later on...
. She believed that women's qualifications for helping with hospital management were equal to men's though each sex might bring somewhat different experience to the task.
All her life, Louisa Stevenson supported the cause of women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
and she was an executive committee member of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies in the 1890s. In the last years of her life she met Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Henry Campbell-Bannerman
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman GCB was a British Liberal Party politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908 and Leader of the Liberal Party from 1899 to 1908. He also served as Secretary of State for War twice, in the Cabinets of Gladstone and Rosebery...
as part of a deputation of women's suffragists, and in that same year, 1906, she received an honorary degree of LLD
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
from Edinburgh University. She died on 13 May 1908, at home in Edinburgh.
The British Journal of Nursing attributed her success in everything she did to her "genial courtesy", "indomitable perseverance" and a "thorough grasp of the subject in hand".
Sources
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- British Journal of Nursing 5 July 1902
- Scotsman obituary, 14 May 1908