Edinburgh University Women's Union was a students' union for women at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, Scotland. The union became the Chambers Street Union before accepting the admission of men to membership in 1971, ahead of merging into the new

Edinburgh University Students' Association Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of ...

in 1973.

Founding

Despite there being more than 400 women students at the

in 1905, the Edinburgh University Union continued to only admit men as members. To meet the needs of women students, the Women's Union was established in October 1905 at 53 Lothian Street. The premises contained a reading room, drawing room and dining room.

Change of premises and fundraising

As the number of female students rose in the early part of the 19th century, the original premises became unsuitable. In 1908, £2000 was raised through a fundraising bazaar to extend the premises. In April 1920 the Union moved to 52 and 53 George Square. The new building had been partly funded by £1000 gifted by The Carnegie Trust and £450 raised through a fete. The premises included reading and dining rooms, lounges, and bedrooms available for brief stays. In 1926, in celebration of the Union's 21st anniversary, ''Atalanta's Garland: Edinburgh University Women's Union,'' a collection of pictures and writing from a variety of literary figures, was published as a fundraiser. The collection included pieces from

Katherine Mansfield Kathleen Mansfield Murry (née Beauchamp; 14 October 1888 – 9 January 1923) was a New Zealand writer, essayist and journalist, widely considered one of the most influential and important authors of the modernist movement. Her works are celebra ...

and Jessie M King, as well as

Virginia Woolf Adeline Virginia Woolf (; ; 25 January 1882 28 March 1941) was an English writer, considered one of the most important modernist 20th-century authors and a pioneer in the use of stream of consciousness as a narrative device. Woolf was born i ...

's ''A Women's College from the Outside''. Also involved in the publication was

Cecile Walton Cecile Walton (29 March 1891 – 23 April 1956), was a Scottish painter, illustrator and sculptor. She and her husband Eric were two of the moving spirits of the Edinburgh chapter of the Symbolist movement in the early 20th century. Life ...

, whose essay ''Atalanta in Caledonia'' was also included. In 1927, the Union moved to the basement of 54 George Square.

Edinburgh University Tea Club

In addition to the founding of the Women's Union, the Edinburgh University Tea Club was founded in November 1920, first meeting in the Upper Library Hall of the Old College. This club aimed to provide an opportunity for social interaction for women associated with the teaching staff of the University. By 1945, various regular social activities including badminton, golf, tennis and folk-dancing were taking place.

Chambers Street Union

The Union building was demolished in 1964 to make way for the new William Robertson building, and the Union moved to 16 Chambers Street. At this point the Union changed its name to the Chambers Street Union. The Union voted to admit men as members shortly before Edinburgh University Union voted to admit women in February 1971.

Merger

Following initial opposition, on the Students' Representative Council, the Edinburgh University Union and the Chambers Street Union merged to form

Presidents and Notable members

* Patricia Taylor-Young – President of the Women's Union 1954. *

June Paterson-Brown June Paterson-Brown, née Garden (8 February 1932 – 6 December 2009) was a Scottish medical doctor, early family planning advocate, Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association, and the first female Lord Lieutenant in Scotland. Earl ...

, née Garden – President of the Women's Union 1955. *

Jennie Lee, Baroness Lee of Asheridge Janet Lee, Baroness Lee of Asheridge, PC LLD HonFRA (3 November 1904 – 16 November 1988), known as Jennie Lee, was a Scottish politician. She was a Labour Member of Parliament from a by-election in 1929 until 1931 and then from 1945 to ...

– Socialist politician, Labour Party MP, Minister for the Arts. * Catherine Snodgrass – Geographer.

References

{{Authority control 1905 establishments in Scotland Student organizations established in 1905 Organisations based in Edinburgh Students' unions in Scotland University of Edinburgh