Isabella Elder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isabella Ure Elder
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| Born | 15 March 1828 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 18 November 1905 (aged 77) Glasgow, Scotland
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| Monuments | Elder Park, Govan, Elder Park Library, Cottage Hospital, School for Domestic Economy, Cottage Nurses Training Home, John Elder Statue |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Philanthropist |
| Known for | Philanthropy, Advocating for Women's Education (especially Nurses and Doctors), Gifting Elder Park and Elder Park Library, Govan/Glasgow |
| Spouse(s) | John Elder (shipbuilder) |
Isabella Ure Elder was a kind Scottish lady who lived from 1828 to 1905. She loved helping people, especially by improving education for women. She also cared a lot about the people in Govan, a part of Glasgow.
In Govan, she built many important places. These included the Elder Park Library, a school to teach home skills, a hospital, and a training home for nurses. She also put up a statue for her husband, John Elder. Isabella also gave Elder Park to the people of Govan. Many of the things she built are still helping the community today!
Contents
Isabella's Early Life
Isabella Ure was born on March 15, 1828, in the Gorbals area of Glasgow. Her mother was Mary Ure. Her father, Alexander Ure, was a lawyer.
Isabella was the only daughter in her family to survive. She had one older brother named John Francis. We don't know much about her early education.
Marriage and Becoming a Widow
In 1857, Isabella married John Elder. He was a partner in a company called Randolph, Elder & Co.. This company built parts for ships.
In 1860, their growing business bought a shipyard in Govan. By 1868, the company was known as John Elder & Co. When John Elder passed away in 1869, his company was one of the best shipbuilders in the world.
After her husband died, Isabella became the only owner of the business. She ran it very well for nine months. Then, she transferred it to a new group of partners, which included her brother. Isabella was a wealthy widow and had no children. She traveled a lot and became a major helper of people in Glasgow.
Isabella's Philanthropy
Isabella Elder used her wealth to help many people and causes. She is remembered for her generous gifts.
Helping Universities
When Isabella was a widow, she lived near the University of Glasgow. She was very interested in the university.
- In 1873, she gave £5,000 to support the teaching of Civil Engineering.
- In 1883, she gave £12,500 to create the John Elder Chair of Naval Architecture. This was named after her husband.
She also left money in her will for the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. This college is now called the University of Strathclyde. Her gift funded special lectures about astronomy. These lectures were named the David Elder lectures, after her father-in-law.
Supporting Women's Education
Isabella Elder strongly believed in education for women. In 1883, she bought North Park House in Glasgow. She let Queen Margaret College use this building for free. This was the first college in Scotland to offer higher education to women.
Women in Medicine
Isabella also paid for medical courses for women at Queen Margaret College. These courses started in 1890. Teachers from the University of Glasgow taught these classes. However, women could not get a degree at first.
In 1892, the University Commissioners (Scotland) announced that women could join universities. Because of this, Queen Margaret College became part of the University of Glasgow.
The first women graduated in medicine in 1894. The first women graduated in arts in 1895. Isabella wanted to make sure women received the same quality of teaching as men. She only gave North Park House to the University if they promised this. She was sometimes disappointed with the teaching. In 1899, she refused to give more money unless the agreement was followed.
Helping the Community in Govan
Many of Isabella's projects were in Govan, Glasgow. In 1883, she bought a large piece of land near her husband's Fairfield Shipyard. She turned this land into Elder Park. It was named after her husband and his father, David. The park opened on June 27, 1885. For many years, she paid for fireworks displays there.
In 1885, she also started a School for Domestic Economy. Young women learned how to cook and manage a home on a small budget. In 1901, she paid for the building and books for the Elder Free Library. This library is in Elder Park and is still open today. She also provided a house for the Cottage Nurses Training Home. In 1903, she paid to build the Elder Cottage Hospital. She continued to support this hospital until she died.
Isabella's Death
Isabella Elder passed away at her home in Glasgow on November 18, 1905. Her death certificate was signed by Dr. Marion Gilchrist. Dr. Gilchrist was the first woman to graduate in medicine in Glasgow.
On November 22, Isabella was buried in her family's tomb at Glasgow Necropolis. Her will left more than £125,000 for charity. This included a fund to help poor widows in Govan and Glasgow.
Tributes to Isabella
The University of Glasgow gave Isabella Elder an honorary degree in 1901. A Glasgow newspaper called her "a true woman, a wise benefactress of the public and of learning." In December 2015, the University named a building after her.
She is also remembered at the University's Memorial Quincentennial Gates. There is a special window in Bute Hall called "The Pursuit of Ideal Education." In this window, Isabella is shown with Janet Anne Galloway and Jessie Campbell.
In 1906, a bronze statue of Isabella Elder was put in Elder Park. It stands on a granite base and is surrounded by a memorial garden. The Provost of Govan, Sir John Anthony, unveiled the statue. Isabella is shown sitting, wearing her academic gown. Her mortar board hat is in her lap.
The sculptor was Archibald Macfarlane Shannan. The statue cost £2,000, which was raised by public donations. Many ordinary people from Govan gave money because they respected her so much. This was one of the first statues of a woman in Glasgow. It is still one of only a few statues that honor specific women.
Isabella's statue is a Category A Listed building. The monument and gardens were fixed up in 2010.
There is another Elder Park in Adelaide, Australia. However, this park is named after a different Elder family. Both parks once had similar bandstands, but the one in Govan is now gone.
