Jane Arthur facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jane Arthur
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| Born |
Jane Glen
18 November 1827 |
| Died | 25 May 1907 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Known for | Feminist activist and social reformer |
| Spouse(s) | James Arthur |
| Children | several including Lord Glenarthur |
Jane Arthur (born November 18, 1827 – died May 25, 1907) was an important Scottish woman. She worked to help others and fought for women's rights. She was the very first woman chosen to be on a school board in Scotland.
Contents
Jane Arthur's Life and Work
Early Life and Family
Jane Glen was born in a place called Foxbar, Scotland, on November 18, 1827. Her parents were Jessie Fulton and Thomas Glen. Her family had connections to the famous Coats family, who made thread.
In 1847, when Jane was about 20, she married James Arthur. He was a draper, which means he sold cloth and clothing. The Arthurs had a very successful business selling clothes in large amounts (called wholesale clothing). This success helped them buy their home, an estate called Barshaw. One of their children was Matthew, who later became known as Lord Glenarthur.
Breaking Barriers: School Board Election
In 1872, a new law called the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 made it possible for women to be elected to school boards. These boards helped manage schools.
In 1873, Jane Arthur made history! She was the first Scottish woman to run for and win a spot on a school board. She was elected to the Paisley school board. Soon after, other women like Phoebe Blyth and Flora Stevenson were also elected to the Edinburgh school board.
Fighting for Change: Activism and Charity
Jane Arthur believed strongly in helping people and making society better. She worked for several important causes:
- Women's Suffrage: This was the movement to gain voting rights for women. Jane believed women should have a say in how their country was run. Her family, including the men, supported her in this.
- Temperance: This movement encouraged people to drink less alcohol or no alcohol at all.
- Education: Jane helped students go to school. She gave money, called bursaries, to a student from Renfrewshire and to a woman studying to become a doctor. In 1892, she created the Arthur Fellowship to help more women get a medical education.
Helping the Sick and Poor
Jane Arthur was also very involved in helping people who were sick or poor.
- In the late 1880s, she started a Dorcas Society. This group gave clothes to people who were getting better after being treated at the Paisley Infirmary (a hospital).
- With her husband's help, she gave soup and bread to poor people who had just left the hospital.
- In 1903, the Jane Arthur Fund was created. This fund paid for poor patients to recover after leaving the hospital.
- Jane was also the vice president of the Paisley Ladies' Sanitary Association. In 1866, this group started a plan to build public baths, which helped people stay clean and healthy. Her sister was the president of this association.
- She and her husband also helped build a "model lodging-house" in Paisley. This was a place where poor people could find a clean, affordable place to stay. They also provided mid-morning tea for people living in the "poor house," which was a place for very poor people who couldn't support themselves.
