Profile of Butler looking to the left
Josephine Butler, founding president of NECPHEW

The North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women (NECPHEW), inspired by Anne Clough, was established in November 1867.[1] At this time women could not be awarded university degrees even though they had passed the examinations. The University of London awarded its first degrees to women in 1878, Durham followed in 1895 but Oxford did not follow suit until 1920 and Cambridge not until 1948.[2]

At its first meeting, Ladies' Educational Associations were represented by Elizabeth Wolstenholme from Manchester and Lucy Wilson from Leeds. Clough became honorary secretary and Josephine Butler took office as its president, a position she held until she stood down in 1871.[3] Wolstenholme drew up the rules and her friend, the academic James Stuart gave a series of lectures for women in astronomy. F W H Myers was another tutor and more than 550 students signed up to his university lectures.[4]

During winter 1867 and spring 1868, members of NECPHEW gathered support for a memorial to the Cambridge Senate. In October 1868 the professional accreditation of women educators was secured by the award of a University Diploma.[5] The second meeting of NECPHEW was held at Leeds on 15 and 16 April 1868.[6]

By 1872, Manchester Ladies' Educational Association was represented by Elizabeth Gaskell's daughter Meta and the Ladies' Educational Association in Leeds by Frances Lupton who was supported by her sister-in-law, Anna Lupton and Lord Houghton.[7] A number of the council's members also belonged to the Education for Girls Committee of the Royal Society of Arts which, from 1871, had aligned itself with the aims of NECPHEW.[8][9][10]

Publications

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Sutherland (2006), p. 80
  2. ^ University. English Heritage. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  3. ^ Jordan (2001), p. 104
  4. ^ Jordan (2001), pp. 87–88
  5. ^ Wills (1951–52), p. 278
  6. ^ Anon (1983), p. 228
  7. ^ "Richard Monckton Milnes, 1st Baron Houghton". National Portrait Gallery, London. 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  8. ^ Murray, Janet H.; Stark, Myra, eds. (2016) [1872], The Englishwoman's Review of Social and Industrial Questions: 1872, Routledge, ISBN 9781315411194
  9. ^ The Englishwoman's Review of Social and Industrial Questions, Garland, 1985 [1874], ISBN 9780824037291
  10. ^ "Announcement by The North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women (Council)", Journal of the Royal Society of Arts, 19, Royal Society of Arts: 719–720, 1871

Bibliography

  • Anon (1983), History of Women: Periodicals Guide, Research Publications, ISBN 9780892350407
  • Jordan, Jane (2001), Josephine Butler, Hambledon Continuum, ISBN 978-1-84725-045-2
  • Sutherland, Gill (2006), Faith, Duty, and the Power of Mind: The Cloughs and Their Circle, 1820-1960, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-86155-7
  • Wills, Stella (1951–52), "The Anglo-Jewish Contribution to the Education Movement for Women in the Nineteenth Century", Transactions (Jewish Historical Society of England), 17, Jewish Historical Society of England: 269–281, JSTOR 29777906
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