Edith Major | |
|---|---|
 by James Sinton Sleator | |
| Born | 15 February 1867  Lisburn |
| Died | 17 March 1951 (aged 84) Antrim |
| Alma mater | |
| Awards |
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Edith Helen Major, CBE (15 February 1867 – 17 March 1951) [1] was an Irish educationalist. She was Mistress of Girton College Cambridge from 1925 to 1931. [2]
Major was born in Lisburn. [3] Her uncle was Sir Robert McCall, a noted Irish barrister. [3] She was educated at Methodist College Belfast [4] and Girton College, Cambridge. [5] She was one of the "steamboat ladies" who received a degree from Trinity College Dublin, because Cambridge was not yet granting women degrees, at the time. [6] [7]
Major was a member of the faculty at Blackheath High School from 1888 to 1900, and assistant mistress serving under Florence Gadesden. [8] She was Headmistress of Putney High School from 1900 to 1910; [9] [10] and Head Mistress of King Edward VI High School for Girls from 1910 until 1925. After World War I she worked with Belgian refugees. [3] Major succeeded Bertha Phillpotts as Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge, serving from 1925 until 1931. [11] [12] [13] She was succeeded at Girton by Helen M. Wodehouse. [14]
Major was president of the National Federation of University Women, and president of the National Council of Women of Great Britain. [3] She was president of the Association of Head Mistresses from 1919 to 1921. [10] [15] She was an active supporter of the League of Nations. [16]
In 1931 Major became a Commander of the British Empire (CBE). [17] She received an honorary LL.D. degree from Queen's University Belfast in 1931. [18]
Major died in 1951, at the age of 84, in Antrim. Another former Girton head, Katharine Jex-Blake, died in the same month, and they were honored with a joint memorial service. Girton College has a painting of her by James Sleator. [19]
"Major, Edith Helen". Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
