Louisa Macdonald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louisa Macdonald
|
|
|---|---|
Miss Louisa Macdonald, Principal of the Women's College, c. 1890s
|
|
| Born | 10 December 1858 Arbroath, Scotland
|
| Died | 28 November 1949 (aged 90) London, England
|
| Alma mater | University College, London (BA 1884, MA 1886) |
| Known for | Principal of the Women's College, University of Sydney |
Louisa Macdonald (born December 10, 1858 – died November 28, 1949) was an important person in education. She also worked for women's rights, especially for women to have the right to vote. She helped create better learning opportunities for women in Australia.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Louisa Macdonald was born in 1858 in Arbroath, Scotland. She was one of many children born to Ann and John Macdonald, who was a lawyer.
Louisa and her sister Isabella went to University College, London. They were among the first students to live in College Hall. Louisa studied very hard and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884. She did very well in subjects like classics (ancient Greek and Roman studies) and German.
In 1886, she earned a Master of Arts degree in classics. After finishing her studies, she immediately started teaching. She gave lectures and private lessons to students at College Hall.
Building a Career in Education
By 1891, Louisa Macdonald became a Fellow of University College, London. This was a special honor.
She was chosen from many people to be the first leader, or principal, of the Women's College at the University of Sydney. She started her job in March 1892 with only four students. The college was in a rented building at first.
Louisa Macdonald worked closely with architects John Sulman and John Porter Power. She helped design the new Women's College buildings. These buildings were made to hold 26 students and opened in 1894.
Louisa worked very hard to make the college successful. This was a time when educating women was not seen as very important. She wanted to build a strong place for women's education. She believed in equal chances for everyone to learn and grow. Her friend, Evelyn Dickinson, helped her a lot. Louisa also believed that beautiful surroundings were important for a good education.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Louisa Macdonald was very active in university life. She also strongly supported women's rights. She joined groups like the Sydney University Women's Association.
She was also part of the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales. This group worked to get women the right to vote. She also joined the Women's Literary Society. These groups helped women to have a stronger voice in society.
Later Years and Lasting Impact
Louisa Macdonald retired from the University in early 1919. Soon after she announced her retirement, people planned a way to remember her work. The Louisa May Memorial Hall was opened in 1924 to honor her.
Louisa Macdonald passed away in 1949 in London. Her work helped many women get a good education and paved the way for more equality.
