Opening of Masson Hall, 1897
Masson Hall was founded in 1897 as a residence for women students at the University of Edinburgh. The residence, located at 31 George Square, was built through funding generated by a campaign led by the Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women to provide amenities for the female students of the University.
The Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women (originally known as the Edinburgh Ladies Education Association) was founded in 1867 to promote the education and intellectual improvement of women. By campaigning for the university education of women the association established close links with Edinburgh University, finding support for their cause in many of its professors. One of the most outspoken in support for the campaign was David Mather Masson (1822-1907), Professor of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres (English Literature) at Edinburgh University who gave lectures in English Literature for women through classes put on by the association.
The Universities (Scotland) Act 1889 was partly a response to the nationwide campaign for women's education. The act appointed commissioners to draw up ordinances relating to various aspects of the University system. The Ordinance no.18 (Regulations for the Graduation of Women and for their instruction in the Universities) was passed in 1892. The first female students graduated at Edinburgh University in 1893 as a result of accreditation given to attendance of the classes provided by the EAUW. Since the association's main objective had been achieved their attention turned to providing facilities and amenities for the new women students. Their primary concern was to provide a meeting place for the women (as the University Union in Teviot Row House was male only) and a hall of residence to be named Masson in honour of one of their leading champions.
In 1894 Masson Hall Incorporated was established in order that the proposed hall be eligible for grants and bequests, such as the Pfeiffer Trust donation of £2000 and the Phoebe Blyth library gift. The leading activists were Miss Houldsworth and Miss Louisa Stevenson who succeeded in their aim of raising enough funds to buy a property, 31 George Square, and open it as a meeting point and hall of residence 24th November 1897.
Other University Events in 1897
See Also
- Foundation of Edinburgh Ladies Education Association, 1868
- Opening of University Union, 1887
- Foundation of University Hall, 1887
- First Graduation of Female Students, 1893
Sources
- Robert D. Anderson, 'The Construction of a Modern University', in Robert D. Anderson, Michael Lynch, and Nicholas Phillipson, The University of Edinburgh: An Illustrated History (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003), pp. 103-207.
- Sir Thomas Henry Holland, 'Introduction', in A. Logan Turner (ed.), History of the University of Edinburgh 1883-1933 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1933), pp. xiii-xxx.
- David Bayne Horn, A Short History of the University of Edinburgh, 1556-1889 (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1967)