Queen Margaret College was a women-only

higher education institution Higher education is tertiary education leading to award of an academic degree. Higher education, also called post-secondary education, third-level or tertiary education, is an optional final stage of formal learning that occurs after completio ...

based in North Park House in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated pop ...

, Scotland.

History

The idea of a college arose as the result of English literature lectures for women that were suggested by Janet "Jessie" Campbell to Professor John Nichol of the University of Glasgow. The Glasgow Association for the Higher Education of Women was established, as women were not at the time permitted to study at

Scottish universities There are fifteen universities in Scotland and three other institutions of higher education that have the authority to award academic degrees. The first university college in Scotland was founded at St John's College, St Andrews in 1418 by H ...

. The first secretary of the College was Janet Anne Galloway. The College was named for Queen Margaret of Scotland, and at the time was the only such college in the country. North Park House, built between 1869 and 1871 for John and Matthew Bell, owners of the Glasgow Pottery, was purchased by Isabella Elder, a local philanthropist and wife of the shipbuilder John Elder, to house the College, which moved into the premises adjacent to the University's

Botanic Gardens A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens, an ...

in 1883. A proposal to provide medical courses for women was made in 1889 with the financial backing of Mrs Isabella Elder. A formal motion was adopted at the Annual General Meeting of the college on 28 April 1890 Classes in the study of medicine commenced for 13 students in the winter session of 1890/1891. A new Medical Hall was built in 1895, designed by

John Keppie John Keppie (4 August 1862 – 28 April 1945) was a Glasgow architect and artist. From an early age he was a close friend of Edward Atkinson Hornel and would often bring in New Year with him in Kirkcudbright. Within the architectural professi ...

with input by

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh (7 June 1868 – 10 December 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist. His artistic approach had much in common with European Symbolism. His work, alongside that of his wife Margaret Macd ...

. The funding for the erection of this purpose-built facility came from the Bellahouston Trust which had been established for charitable, religious and educational purposes in the city. Keppie and Mackintosh's building was formally opened on 18 November 1895 by Rev. John Caird, Principal of the University of Glasgow. The College merged with the University of Glasgow in 1892, although the premises continued to be used solely for the education of women until being sold to

BBC Scotland BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''BBC Alba'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland. It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. ...

in 1935,Hutcheson, Robert T. and Hugh Conway (1997). ''The University of Glasgow 1920-1974: The Memoir of Robert T. Hutcheson''. Glasgow: Glasgow University Library. pp. 71-72. who moved from premises in West George Street. Queen Margaret College leaves a strong legacy within the University, in the form of the

Queen Margaret Union The Queen Margaret Union (QMU) is one of two students' unions at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1890, it caters to the social and cultural needs of its members by providing a range of services including volunteering opportun ...

, Queen Margaret Settlement, and Queen Margaret Halls of Residence in

Kelvinside Kelvinside is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde and is bounded by Broomhill, Dowanhill and Hyndland to the south with Kelvindale and the River Kelvin to the north. It is an affluent area of ...

Notable alumni and staff

* Janet Anne Galloway, first secretary. * Frances Melville, second secretary. * Jessie Campbell founder * Dr Marion Gilchrist: first woman to graduate from the University of Glasgow and first woman to graduate in medicine from a Scottish University * Violet Mary Craig Roberton: one of the first women to be elected as a councillor in Glasgow * Mary Anderson Snodgrass: suffragist and one of the first women to be elected as councillor in Glasgow *

John Adam Cramb John Adam Cramb (4 May 1862 – October 1913) was a Scottish historian and fervent patriot. He published non-fiction works under his own name, and fiction under the pseudonym of R. A. Revermont. Cramb was born at Denny, Falkirk in Scotland, ...

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the stu ...

(lecturer 1888-1890) *

James Hogarth Pringle James Hogarth Pringle (born 26 January 1863 in Parramatta, Australia – died 24 April 1941 in Killearn, Scotland) was an Australian-born British surgeon in Glasgow, who made a number of important contributions to surgical practice. He is most ...

(lecturer)

Queen Margaret Union

In 1890, the students of the College founded the

to cater for social and cultural activities. The Union was originally housed in the College's basement until 1906, when the College's growth meant the space was required for teaching. The Union subsequently occupied accommodation at 31 Buckingham Terrace, close to the College building, the former College Club at 67 Ann Street (now Southpark Terrance), a house at 1 University Gardens and the John McIntyre Building, before finally acquiring a home of its own at 22 University Gardens in 1968. Following several requests from male students wishing to join, the Union amended its constitution in 1979 to permit men to become members. The GUU followed two years later. The archives for the Queen Margaret College are maintained by the Archives of the University of Glasgow (GUAS).

References

External links

Charles Rennie Mackintosh – Glasgow Buildings
{{Authority control Educational institutions established in 1868 Defunct universities and colleges in Scotland Former women's universities and colleges in the United Kingdom 1868 establishments in Scotland 1892 disestablishments in Scotland Educational institutions disestablished in 1892

History

Notable alumni and staff

Queen Margaret Union

See also

References

External links