Ladies Dining Society
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Ladies Dining Society was a private women's dining and discussion club, based at
Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
. It was founded in 1890 by the author Louise Creighton and the women's activist Kathleen Lyttelton. Its members, most of whom were married to Cambridge academics, were believers in women’s education and were active in the campaign to grant women Cambridge degrees. Most were strong supporters of female suffrage. The society remained active until the
First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
. It has been stated that the Society stands "as a testament to friendship and intellectual debate at a time when women’s voices went largely unheard."


Background

Until the late 1870s, almost all college fellows had been prohibited from marrying, with only a few exceptions such as
University A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United Stat ...
professors and Heads of Houses. The revision of the University statutes in 1878 ushered in the establishment of the first women's colleges and an era of greater participation of women in university life, although dining in college remained the norm for male fellows with wives being excluded from high tables. It was against this background that Kathleen Lyttelton suggested to her friend Louise Creighton that they should start a ladies dining club. In 1890, the pair invited a select group of nine (later ten) of their married friends to join their society, "not without an idea of retaliating on the husbands who dined in College."Quoted in Kennedy Smith 2018 Several of their friends’ husbands were members of an elite society, the
Cambridge Apostles The Cambridge Apostles (also known as '' Conversazione Society'') is an intellectual society at the University of Cambridge founded in 1820 by George Tomlinson, a Cambridge student who became the first Bishop of Gibraltar.W. C. Lubenow, ''The ...
, which may have provided inspiration. The society was one of a growing number of women's associations which were formed in Britain during the 1880s and 1890s, and it has been said that at that date "even to form a ladies’ social club was a mild assertion of women’s right to public space". The society members were believers in women’s education, and were active in the campaign to grant women Cambridge degrees. Most were strong supporters of female suffrage. The members took it in turn to host once or twice a term, leaving their husbands either to dine at their colleges or to eat a solitary meal in their studies. The hostess not only provided a good dinner (though champagne was not allowed) but also a suitable topic of conversation, if needed. The hostess was also allowed to introduce a guest for dinner. Conversation was to be kept general, Louise Creighton having strong views against what she called 'sub-committees'. It was an exclusive society, one black ball being enough to exclude a proposed new member. Although the group nominated one of their number to act as secretary, no records of their discussions are believed to survive.


List of members

* Louise Creighton (née von Glehn), author * Kathleen Lyttelton (née Clive), women's activist * Eleanor Sidgwick (née Balfour), physicist and Principal of
Newnham College Newnham College is a women's constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sidgwick and suffragist campaigner Millice ...
* Margaret Verrall (née Merrifield), classicist and lecturer at Newnham * Ellen Wordsworth Darwin (née Crofts), past lecturer at Newnham * Mary Ward (née Martin), lecturer at Newnham * Mary Marshall (née Paley), economist and lecturer at Newnham * The Hon. Emma Cecilia (Ida) Darwin (née Farrer), mental health campaigner * Martha Haskins (Maud) Darwin (née DuPuy), American socialite and campaigner for the introduction of women police officers *
Caroline Jebb Caroline Lane Jebb, Lady Jebb (1840 – 11 July 1930), née Reynolds, then Slemmer, was an American intellectual and socialite. Biographical notes Born Caroline Lane Reynolds in 1840 in Evansburg, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the Rev ...
(née Reynolds; then Slemmer), American socialite * Mary Frances (Fanny) Prothero (née Butcher) * Baroness Eliza (Isy) von Hügel (née Froude), promoter of Roman Catholic education.


Member details

Louise Creighton, author and women's activist, was married to
Mandell Creighton Mandell Creighton (; 5 July 1843 – 14 January 1901) was a British historian and a bishop of the Church of England. A scholar of the Renaissance papacy, Creighton was the first occupant of the Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Di ...
, Professor in ecclesiastical history. In 1885, she had founded the
National Union of Women Workers The National Council of Women exists to co-ordinate the voluntary efforts of women across Great Britain. Founded as the National Union of Women Workers, it said that it would "promote sympathy of thought and purpose among the women of Great Brita ...
with Lady
Laura Ridding Lady Laura Elizabeth Ridding born Laura Elizabeth Palmer (26 March 1849 – 22 May 1939) was a British biographer, suffragist and philanthropist. Life Ridding was born in Harley Street. Her father, Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne, had m ...
and
Emily Janes Emily Janes (14 February 1846 – 26 October 1928) was a British women's rights activist. Born in Tring in Hertfordshire, Janes was educated at a school in Chesham before undertaking voluntary work, initially managing various clubs associa ...
in order to co-ordinate the voluntary efforts of women across Great Britain. She was its first president. Kathleen Lyttelton, author and women's activist, was married to
Arthur Lyttelton Arthur Temple Lyttelton (7 January 1852 – 19 February 1903) was an Anglican Bishop from the Lyttelton family. After studying at Eton College and Cambridge University, he was ordained as a priest in 1877, and was a curate at St Mary's in Readi ...
, first master of Selwyn College. In 1884 she had founded The Cambridge Association For Women's Suffrage (CAWS) along with Millicent Fawcett, and had joined the Executive of The Central Society For Women’s Suffrage. She was also active with the Cambridge Women's Refuge, helping to raise funds for what would become the Cambridge Association for the Care of Girls which aimed to provide poor local girls with practical help with domestic economy and literacy. Eleanor Sidgwick, physicist, psychic researcher and Principal of
Newham College Newham College is a large general further education college in the London Borough of Newham, England, established in 1985. The college's main site is in East Ham, with a further site in Stratford and six further local neighbourhood learning cen ...
, was married to
Henry Sidgwick Henry Sidgwick (; 31 May 1838 – 28 August 1900) was an English utilitarian philosopher and economist. He was the Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1883 until his death, and is best known in philos ...
, Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy. She was said to have been a reserved, rather aloof figure but Louise Creighton recalled her shining on these occasions: "I have never anywhere else seen her more alive & interested. She used to quite flush with excitement". Other members had connections with Newnham, too. Margaret Verrall was a classicist and lecturer at the college who, according to a friend "was very easily bored and disliked stale or fruitless controversy". Ellen Wordsworth Darwin was a cousin of
Henry Sidgwick Henry Sidgwick (; 31 May 1838 – 28 August 1900) was an English utilitarian philosopher and economist. He was the Knightbridge Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1883 until his death, and is best known in philos ...
who had taught English literature at Newnham from 1878 until 1883, but had given it up after her marriage to the botanist
Francis Darwin Sir Francis "Frank" Darwin (16 August 1848 – 19 September 1925) was a British botanist. He was the third son of the naturalist and scientist Charles Darwin. Biography Francis Darwin was born in Down House, Downe, Kent in 1848. He was the ...
and the birth of their daughter
Frances Frances is a French and English given name of Latin origin. In Latin the meaning of the name Frances is 'from France' or 'free one.' The male version of the name in English is Francis. The original Franciscus, meaning "Frenchman", comes from the F ...
. She was strongly
agnostic Agnosticism is the view or belief that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. (page 56 in 1967 edition) Another definition provided is the view that "human reason is incapable of providing sufficient ...
and took her discussions seriously, a friend observing "It was at once distracting and delightfully amusing to hear her say, as she not infrequently did, 'I know I’m right'". Mary Ward was a lecturer at Newnham and was married to the philosopher
James Ward James Ward may refer to: Military *James Ward (Medal of Honor, 1864) (1833–?), American Civil War sailor * James Ward (Medal of Honor, 1890) (1854–1901), American Indian Wars soldier *James Allen Ward (1919–1941), New Zealand pilot and Vi ...
. In 1879 she had been the first woman to be awarded a Class I in the Moral Sciences Tripos. She was a promoter of women’s education at Cambridge and was active in the suffrage movement, her play ''Man and Woman'' featuring on suffrage programmes for a number of years. She acted as honorary secretary of the Cambridge Women’s Suffrage Association from 1905 until 1915. It was said of her that her "quick Irish speech bubbled out when she was excited. Life was full of the urge of things to fight for". Mary Marshall was an economics lecturer at Newnham College and was married to
Alfred Marshall Alfred Marshall (26 July 1842 – 13 July 1924) was an English economist, and was one of the most influential economists of his time. His book '' Principles of Economics'' (1890) was the dominant economic textbook in England for many years. I ...
, professor of political economy. Writing to
Benjamin Jowett Benjamin Jowett (, modern variant ; 15 April 1817 – 1 October 1893) was an English tutor and administrative reformer in the University of Oxford, a theologian, an Anglican cleric, and a translator of Plato and Thucydides. He was Master of Bal ...
, Master of
Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. One of Oxford's oldest colleges, it was founded around 1263 by John I de Balliol, a landowner from Barnard Castle in County Durham, who provided the f ...
she reported "The 'Eleven' dined on Tuesday at Mrs George Darwin's. The Eleven are, you know, eleven ladies who leave their husbands behind, and dress well & dine well for their own satisfaction, & claim they talk well too, though perhaps some people wd not admit it". Ida Darwin was married to
Horace Darwin Sir Horace Darwin, (13 May 1851 – 22 September 1928), was an English engineer specializing in the design and manufacture of precision scientific instruments. He was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Personal life and education Dar ...
, the Cambridge scientific instrument maker and son of
Charles Darwin Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all species of life have descended fr ...
. She campaigned for the passing of the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913, was one of the founders of the Cambridge Association for the Care of the Feeble-Minded in 1908, and became actively involved in helping Cambridge’s disadvantaged girls to find training and work. According to Louise Creighton, she "talked very little but we all liked to have her there". The American
Maud Darwin Martha Haskins, Lady Darwin ( du Puy; July 27, 1861 - 6 February 1947), known as Maud Darwin, was an American socialite and the wife of the English Cambridge University astronomer Sir George Darwin. Biographical notes She was born as Martha H ...
, the youngest of the group, was married to
George Darwin Sir George Howard Darwin, (9 July 1845 – 7 December 1912) was an English barrister and astronomer, the second son and fifth child of Charles Darwin and Emma Darwin. Biography George H. Darwin was born at Down House, Kent, the fifth chi ...
,
Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy The Plumian chair of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy is one of the major professorships in Astronomy at Cambridge University, alongside the Lowndean Professorship (which is now mainly held by mathematicians). The chair is currently held at t ...
. According to her eldest daughter, the engraver
Gwen Raverat Gwendolen Mary "Gwen" Raverat (née Darwin; 26 August 1885 – 11 February 1957), was an English wood engraver who was a founder member of the Society of Wood Engravers. Her memoir '' Period Piece'' was published in 1952. Biography Gwendolen ...
, Maud had arrived in England with a great respect for culture, and eager to learn all she could. Nevertheless, "learning was never her strong point", and her real interest was people. She campaigned for the introduction of women police officers in Britain, publishing an article in ''
The Nineteenth Century and After ''The Nineteenth Century'' was a British monthly literary magazine founded in 1877 by James Knowles. It is regarded by historians as 'one of the most important and distinguished monthlies of serious thought in the last quarter of the nineteenth ...
'' in 1914.
Caroline Jebb Caroline Lane Jebb, Lady Jebb (1840 – 11 July 1930), née Reynolds, then Slemmer, was an American intellectual and socialite. Biographical notes Born Caroline Lane Reynolds in 1840 in Evansburg, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the Rev ...
was Maud’s aunt and wife of the classical scholar
Richard Claverhouse Jebb Sir Richard Claverhouse Jebb (27 August 1841 – 9 December 1905) was a British classical scholar. Life Jebb was born in Dundee, Scotland. His father Robert was a well-known Irish barrister; his mother was Emily Harriet Horsley, daughter of t ...
. Gwen Raverat later recalled her "amusing American turn of conversation, complete lack of inhibitions, and great personality". Fanny Prothero, who was married to the historian
George Prothero Sir George Walter Prothero (14 October 1848 – 10 July 1922) was an English historian, writer, and academic who served as president of the Royal Historical Society from 1901 to 1905. Life and writings Prothero was born in Wiltshire to Georg ...
, was quieter, Louise Creighton recalling that at that time "she always wanted intimate talk with one person".
Henry James Henry James ( – ) was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the ...
, who later became a close friend and whom she nursed during his final illness, described her as "a little Irish lady … full of humour and humanity and curiosity and interrogation—too much interrogation". Isy von Hügel's father was the hydrodynamicist and naval architect
William Froude William Froude (; 28 November 1810 in Devon – 4 May 1879 in Simonstown, South Africa) was an English engineer, hydrodynamicist and naval architect. He was the first to formulate reliable laws for the resistance that water offers to ships (suc ...
and her husband the
ethnologist Ethnology (from the grc-gre, ἔθνος, meaning 'nation') is an academic field that compares and analyzes the characteristics of different peoples and the relationships between them (compare cultural, social, or sociocultural anthropology) ...
Baron Anatole von Hügel, the first curator of what would become the Cambridge Museum of Archeology and Anthropology. She was active along with her husband in promoting
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
education at the University.


Later years, and legacy

In 1891
Mandell Creighton Mandell Creighton (; 5 July 1843 – 14 January 1901) was a British historian and a bishop of the Church of England. A scholar of the Renaissance papacy, Creighton was the first occupant of the Dixie Professor of Ecclesiastical History, Di ...
was appointed Bishop of Peterborough, and Louise Creighton reluctantly left Cambridge. She did not relish leaving the collegiate environment, and the move to Peterborough proved difficult for her. The group continued to meet, however, on occasion at the bishop’s palaces in Peterborough and later at
Fulham Fulham () is an area of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in West London, England, southwest of Charing Cross. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, bordering Hammersmith, Kensington and Chelsea. The area faces Wandsworth ...
. With Kathleen Lyttelton having died in 1907, and several members having moved away from Cambridge, the society finally broke up with the coming of war in 1914. The ''ODNB'' states that The Ladies Dining Society stands "as a testament to friendship and intellectual debate at a time when women’s voices went largely unheard".


References


Bibliography

* * * * * * {{cite book , title=Memoirs of a Victorian Woman: reflections of Louise Creighton, 1850–1936 , last=Creighton , first=Louise , publisher=Indiana University Press , year=1994 , isbn=978-0-253-31469-7 , editor-last=Covert , editor-first=James Thayne Clubs and societies of the University of Cambridge 1890 establishments in England Dining clubs British women activists Women's clubs British women's rights activists