Lucy Sutherland

Last updated

Dame Lucy Stuart Sutherland DBE FBA FRSA (21 June 1903 – 20 August 1980) was an Australian-born British historian and head of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. [1]

Contents

Career

Sutherland was born in Geelong, Australia, but brought up in South Africa where she attended Roedean School in Johannesburg, then the University of the Witwatersrand, where she studied history under Professor William Macmillan. She graduated with first-class honours in 1924, then was elected as the Herbert Ainsworth research scholar for a year. [2]

She then moved to read modern history at Somerville College, Oxford, where she again achieved first class honours. In 1926 she was the first woman undergraduate to speak at the Oxford Union, winning applause for her opposition to the motion 'That the women's colleges ... should be levelled to the ground'. After she graduated Somerville appointed her a tutor, and later elected her to a tutorial fellowship in Economic History and Politics (1928–45). She was principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, 1945–71. [3] [4] She was a pro-vice-chancellor of the University 1961–69, the first woman to hold that office.

At a time when the women's societies were advancing towards the full collegiate status finally accorded them in 1960, it was of immense benefit to the Hall to have at its head a woman of Miss Sutherland's statesmanlike vision. Her wisdom and far-sightedness, her clear understanding of financial matters, her business-like handling of committees, her vigorous realism, tempered by discretion, all combined to make her an ideal chairman. ... By virtue of her personality, no less than of her gifts as scholar and administrator, she was outstanding among the academic women of her generation.

Obituary, The Times

In parallel with her academic work, Sutherland also became involved in government administration. In 1941 she was offered a principalship at the Board of Trade, and by 1945 had the rank of assistant secretary. After the war she chaired a Board of Trade working party on the lace industry (1946), and was on a committee of inquiry into the film industry (1949), a royal commission on taxation of profits and income (1951), [5] a committee on grants for students (1958), and the University Grants Committee (1964–99). She was also involved with educational administration and was chair of the Girls' Public Day School Trust. She left an art collection to LMH on her death. [6]

Publications

Honours

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Ollerenshaw</span> English mathematician

Dame Kathleen Mary Ollerenshaw, was a British mathematician and politician who was Lord Mayor of Manchester from 1975 to 1976 and an advisor on educational matters to Margaret Thatcher's government in the 1980s.

Dame Hermione Lee is a British biographer, literary critic and academic. She is a former President of Wolfson College, Oxford, and a former Goldsmiths' Professor of English Literature in the University of Oxford and professorial fellow of New College. She is a fellow of the British Academy and of the Royal Society of Literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marina Warner</span> English novelist, short story writer, historian and mythographer

Dame Marina Sarah Warner, is an English historian, mythographer, art critic, novelist and short story writer. She is known for her many non-fiction books relating to feminism and myth. She has written for many publications, including The London Review of Books, the New Statesman, Sunday Times and Vogue. She has been a visiting professor, given lectures and taught on the faculties of many universities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Warnock, Baroness Warnock</span> English philosopher and writer (1924–2019)

Helen Mary Warnock, Baroness Warnock, was an English philosopher of morality, education, and mind, and a writer on existentialism. She is best known for chairing an inquiry whose report formed the basis of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. She served as Mistress of Girton College, Cambridge from 1984 to 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Wordsworth</span> Founding principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

Dame Elizabeth Wordsworth (1840–1932) was founding Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and she funded and founded St Hugh's College. She was also an author, sometimes writing under the name Grant Lloyd.

Dame Reubina Ann Ballin was a New Zealand psychologist and victims' rights advocate. In 2002, she was accorded New Zealand's highest civilian honour, membership of the Order of New Zealand.

Dame Jean Marjory Herbison was a New Zealand academic, educator, researcher and Chancellor of the University of Canterbury. She was the first woman to hold the post of chancellor at a New Zealand university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Penrose</span> British academic & college principal

Dame Emily Penrose, was an ancient historian and principal of three early women's university colleges in the United Kingdom: Bedford College from 1893 until 1898, Royal Holloway College from 1898 until 1907, and Somerville College, Oxford University from 1907 until 1926. She was the first woman to achieve First Class honours in Classics at Oxford University, and was instrumental in securing the admission of women as full members of the university in 1920. She became Oxford's first Dame in 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Gwynne-Vaughan</span> British mycologist and botanist

Dame Helen Charlotte Isabella Gwynne-Vaughan, was a prominent English botanist and mycologist. During the First World War, she served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps and then as Commandant of the Women's Royal Air Force (WRAF) from 1918 to 1919. During the Second World War, from 1939 to 1941, she served as Chief Controller of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).

Dame Frances Lannon DBE FRHistS is a retired British academic and educator. She was Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

Sir Keith Vivian Thomas is a Welsh historian of the early modern world based at Oxford University. He is best known as the author of Religion and the Decline of Magic and Man and the Natural World. From 1986 to 2000, he was president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janet Vaughan</span> British physiologist and radiobiologist

Dame Janet Maria Vaughan, Mrs Gourlay, was a British physiologist, academic, and academic administrator. She researched in haematology and radiation pathology. From 1945 to 1967, she served as Principal of Somerville College, Oxford.

Dame Margaret Elizabeth Turner-Warwick was a British medical doctor and thoracic specialist. She was the first woman president of the Royal College of Physicians (1989–1992) and, later, chairman of the Royal Devon and Exeter Health Care NHS Trust (1992–1995).

Dame Catherine Mary Hall was a British nurse and nursing administrator who was a long serving General Secretary of the UK's Royal College of Nursing (1957–82).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Neville-Rolfe</span> British businesswoman and peer

Lucy Jeanne Neville-Rolfe, Baroness Neville-Rolfe is a British businesswoman and politician serving as Minister of State at the Cabinet Office since September 2022. She is currently Chair of Crown Agents. A member of the Conservative Party, she served as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury from 2016 to 2017. In December 2021, she was appointed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to lead the statutory review into the state pension age.

Dame Clare Lucy Marx was a British surgeon who was president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England from July 2014 to July 2017, the first woman to hold the position, and former chair of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management. From January 2019 through July 2021, Dame Clare was chair of the General Medical Council, the first woman to hold this role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madeleine Atkins</span>

Dame Madeleine Julia Atkins, is a British academic administrator, scholar of education, and former teacher. Since 2018, she has served as the 9th President of Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. She was formerly vice-chancellor of Coventry University, and the Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (2014–2018).

Dame Helen Jean Sutherland Fraser, is a British executive and publisher. From 2010 to 2016, she was the chief executive officer of the Girls' Day School Trust. She previously worked in publishing, and was an editor then managing director at a number of publishers including Heinemann and Penguin UK.

Dame Elizabeth Mary Keegan, DBE is a retired accountant and civil servant.

References

  1. "Victoria County History: Lady Margaret Hall (from A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 3, the University of Oxford)". Victoria County History . British History. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  2. Herbert Ainsworth scholarship: Grants Register, page 780
  3. "College History". Lady Margaret Hall. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. "History of the Library". Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  5. "No. 39119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 January 1951. p. 192.
  6. "Art UK: Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford". Art UK. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  7. "No. 37977". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1947. p. 2583.
  8. "No. 44740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1968. p. 9.

Sources

Academic offices
Preceded by Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
1945-71
Succeeded by