Sarah Mair
Encyclopedia
Dame Sarah Elizabeth Siddons Mair, DBE
(1846–1941) was a Scottish
campaigner for women's education and women's suffrage, active in the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women
and the Ladies' Edinburgh Debating Society, which she founded before she was 20.
, a great-granddaughter of the actress Sarah Siddons
, Mair started the Edinburgh Essay Society, soon renamed the Ladies' Edinburgh Debating Society, of which she was president for 70 years. The society met in the spacious Mair family home in the New Town
and offered Edinburgh women of a certain background the chance to discuss social questions while learning public speaking and debating skills. They published the Ladies' Edinburgh Magazine, called The Attempt until 1876, which linked them with readers across the country. Charlotte Yonge contributed, and Mair reviewed Josephine Butler
's essay collection Women's Work and Women's Culture.
This society and its headquarters in the Mair dining-room were the focus of much effort to promote women's rights and education, spearheaded by women from professional, usually prosperous families. Louisa
and Flora Stevenson
were early members, as were Louisa Lumsden
, founder of St Leonards School
in St Andrews
, and Charlotte Carmichael
, mother of Marie Stopes
.
The society debated the question of women's suffrage at intervals, with Mair a lifelong supporter of votes for women. In 1866 and 1872 Sarah Mair found that she and her fellow-suffragists were in the minority, but from 1884 onwards motions in favour of women's suffrage were carried by increasing majorities. Mair belonged to the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage which had been established in 1867 as the first Scottish society campaigning for votes for women and which sent speakers all over Scotland. Later she became president of the society, and then president of the Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies. She was often able to mediate between groups with different approaches to campaigning for the vote. Once women over 30 were enfranchised in 1918 she led the Suffrage Society into a new phase as the Society for Equal Citizenship.
Sarah Mair was an important member of the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association in 1867. She was present at the meeting when the Association was founded, but was not considered a founder member, presumably because she was unmarried and rather young. She and Mary Crudelius
were willing to precede one step at a time towards their goal of equal access to university education for both sexes, with Mair believing a practical approach would lead to the right results. However, ultimately they wanted more than a separate system for women, however good the teaching.
In 1876 Mair led an effort to improve the pre-university stage of women's education and advertised classes in St. George's Hall to help women pass the exams which counted as a university entrance qualification for men. She helped develop correspondence courses for women who could not attend classes, and then in 1886 she was active in setting up St George's Training College, followed by St. George's High School for Girls
in 1888. The training college was the first Scottish institution training women to teach in secondary schools and the high school was the first Scottish day school for girls which taught them all the way up to university entrance level. Girls from St. George's were among the first female graduates of Edinburgh University. Sarah Mair was a school governor there all her life.
She also acted as treasurer of the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women
's Masson Hall project, and chaired committees of the Bruntsfield Hospital
for Women and Children and the Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital
. During the first world war her association with Elsie Inglis
continued as she was president of the Hospitals Committee of the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service. She also found time to prove a woman could have skill in both archery
and chess
, and belonged to the Ladies' Chess Club.
from Edinburgh University in 1920 and a DBE
in 1931.
was followed by a funeral service in St Mary's Cathedral. An obituary in The Scotsman
called her a "woman pioneer" and a "venerable and notable Edinburgh lady, one who has helped make history in her time".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1846–1941) was a Scottish
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 education and women's suffrage, active in the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women
Edinburgh 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...
and the Ladies' Edinburgh Debating Society, which she founded before she was 20.
Life
Born into a well-to-do family in EdinburghEdinburgh
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...
, a great-granddaughter of the actress Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
, Mair started the Edinburgh Essay Society, soon renamed the Ladies' Edinburgh Debating Society, of which she was president for 70 years. The society met in the spacious Mair family home in the New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
and offered Edinburgh women of a certain background the chance to discuss social questions while learning public speaking and debating skills. They published the Ladies' Edinburgh Magazine, called The Attempt until 1876, which linked them with readers across the country. Charlotte Yonge contributed, and Mair reviewed Josephine Butler
Josephine Butler
Josephine Elizabeth Butler was a Victorian era British feminist who was especially concerned with the welfare of prostitutes...
's essay collection Women's Work and Women's Culture.
This society and its headquarters in the Mair dining-room were the focus of much effort to promote women's rights and education, spearheaded by women from professional, usually prosperous families. Louisa
Louisa Stevenson
Louisa Stevenson was a Scottish campaigner for women's university education, women's suffrage and effective, well-organised nursing.-Family:...
and Flora Stevenson
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...
were early members, as were Louisa Lumsden
Louisa Lumsden
Dame Louisa Innes Lumsden, born into a wealthy family in Aberdeen, Scotland DBE was a lecturer in classics at Girton College and the first Headmistress of St Leonards, Fife. She is credited with introducing lacrosse to St...
, founder of St Leonards School
St Leonards School
St Leonards School, formerly St Leonards School for Girls, is an independent school, founded by the University of St Andrews in the nineteenth century....
in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, and Charlotte Carmichael
Charlotte Carmichael Stopes
Charlotte Carmichael Stopes was a British scholar, author, and campaigner for women's rights. She published several books relating to the life and work of William Shakespeare. Her most successful publication was British Freewomen: Their Historical Privilege , a book which influenced and inspired...
, mother of Marie Stopes
Marie Stopes
Marie Carmichael Stopes was a British author, palaeobotanist, campaigner for women's rights and pioneer in the field of birth control...
.
The society debated the question of women's suffrage at intervals, with Mair a lifelong supporter of votes for women. In 1866 and 1872 Sarah Mair found that she and her fellow-suffragists were in the minority, but from 1884 onwards motions in favour of women's suffrage were carried by increasing majorities. Mair belonged to the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage which had been established in 1867 as the first Scottish society campaigning for votes for women and which sent speakers all over Scotland. Later she became president of the society, and then president of the Scottish Federation of Women's Suffrage Societies. She was often able to mediate between groups with different approaches to campaigning for the vote. Once women over 30 were enfranchised in 1918 she led the Suffrage Society into a new phase as the Society for Equal Citizenship.
Sarah Mair was an important member of the Edinburgh Ladies' Educational Association in 1867. She was present at the meeting when the Association was founded, but was not considered a founder member, presumably because she was unmarried and rather young. She and Mary Crudelius
Mary Crudelius
Mary Crudelius was a British campaigner for women's education who lived in Leith, Edinburgh in the 1860s and 1870s, and was a supporter of women's suffrage....
were willing to precede one step at a time towards their goal of equal access to university education for both sexes, with Mair believing a practical approach would lead to the right results. However, ultimately they wanted more than a separate system for women, however good the teaching.
In 1876 Mair led an effort to improve the pre-university stage of women's education and advertised classes in St. George's Hall to help women pass the exams which counted as a university entrance qualification for men. She helped develop correspondence courses for women who could not attend classes, and then in 1886 she was active in setting up St George's Training College, followed by St. George's High School for Girls
St. George's School, Edinburgh
St. George's School is an all-girls independent school situated in Ravelston, Edinburgh, Scotland.The curriculum is based on the Scottish education system but also uses aspects of the English education system, for example A-Levels are available in sixth form....
in 1888. The training college was the first Scottish institution training women to teach in secondary schools and the high school was the first Scottish day school for girls which taught them all the way up to university entrance level. Girls from St. George's were among the first female graduates of Edinburgh University. Sarah Mair was a school governor there all her life.
She also acted as treasurer of the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women
Edinburgh 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...
's Masson Hall project, and chaired committees of the Bruntsfield Hospital
Bruntsfield Hospital
Bruntsfield Hospital was an Edinburgh hospital which started in 1878 as a women's dispensary opened by the city's first female doctor, Sophia Jex-Blake. It soon added some beds for in-patients, and moved from a busy, central area to the more peaceful Bruntsfield before the turn of the century...
for Women and Children and the Elsie Inglis Maternity Hospital
Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital
The Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital was a hospital in Abbeyhill, Edinburgh, Scotland, and was founded in 1925 as a memorial to Elsie Inglis. Backing onto Holyrood Park just east of Holyrood House, Edinburgh, Scotland, it was well liked for its intimate atmosphere by mothers who often referred to...
. During the first world war her association with Elsie Inglis
Elsie Inglis
Elsie Inglis was an innovative Scottish doctor and suffragist.-Education:She was born in the hill station town of Naini Tal, India, to John Forbes David Inglis who worked in the Indian civil service as Chief Commissioner of Oudh...
continued as she was president of the Hospitals Committee of the Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service. She also found time to prove a woman could have skill in both archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
and chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, and belonged to the Ladies' Chess Club.
Awards
It was her work for women's education which led to an honorary LLDLegum 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 in 1920 and a DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1931.
Death
Her death at her niece's home in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
was followed by a funeral service in St Mary's Cathedral. An obituary in The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
called her a "woman pioneer" and a "venerable and notable Edinburgh lady, one who has helped make history in her time".
See also
- Canadian Women's Suffrage AssociationCanadian Women's Suffrage AssociationThe Canadian Women's Suffrage Association was originally called the Toronto Women's Literary Guild as a screen for suffrage activities: in effect, its members worked undercover. The Guild, founded in 1877, was renamed in 1883 as the Toronto Women's Suffrage Association...
- List of suffragists and suffragettes
- SuffragetteSuffragette"Suffragette" is a term coined by the Daily Mail newspaper as a derogatory label for members of the late 19th and early 20th century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom, in particular members of the Women's Social and Political Union...
- Women's Social and Political UnionWomen's Social and Political UnionThe Women's Social and Political Union was the leading militant organisation campaigning for Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom...
- Women's suffrageWomen's suffrageWomen'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...
- Women's suffrage in the United KingdomWomen's suffrage in the United KingdomWomen's suffrage in the United Kingdom as a national movement began in 1872. Women were not prohibited from voting in the United Kingdom until the 1832 Reform Act and the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act...
Sources
- Crawford, Elizabeth. The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928 (Routledge 1999)