The Manchester Schoolmistresses Association was inaugurated on 2 December 1865 as a local association for women teachers in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

. It was founded by

Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elizabeth Clarke Wolstenholme-Elmy (''née'' Wolstenholme; 1833 – 12 March 1918) was a British teacher, campaigner and organiser, significant in the history of women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. She wrote essays and some poetry, using t ...

who became its honorary secretary and became a blueprint for similar organisations that sprung up in

Leeds Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

and

Newcastle upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...

Anne Clough Anne Jemima Clough (20 January 182027 February 1892) was an early English suffragist and a promoter of higher education for women. She was the first principal of Newnham College. Life Clough was born at Liverpool, Lancashire, the daughter of c ...

was an honorary member.

Emily Davies Sarah Emily Davies (22 April 1830 – 13 July 1921) was an English feminist who founded Girton College, Cambridge. She campaigned as a suffragist and for women's rights to university education. In her early life, she attended meetings of the ...

was invited to address a meeting of the Manchester Schoolmistresses Board in October 1866 where she spoke about an examination 'judged by the same standard as ordinary degree examinations of the University of Cambridge

hat A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...

would truly attest to women teachers' professional competence' and only a designated women's college would provide a studious environment. In November 1866, Clough addressed the Manchester Schoolmistresses Board on the subject of a council drawn from members of the local Schoolmistresses' Associations to coordinate a lecture series.

The North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women The North of England Council for Promoting the Higher Education of Women (NECPHEW), inspired by Anne Clough, was established in November 1867. At this time women could not be awarded university degrees even though they had passed the examinations. ...

was established in November 1867.

References

Notes Bibliography * * {{refend Professional associations based in the United Kingdom