Early Female Graduates of the Working Men's College

Summary

At a Council Meeting of the Working Men's College on 4 April 1887, 'it was resolved that all classes, unless specified for men only, should be open to women also' (Leader, 9 April 1887, p. 29). According to Murray-Smith and Dare (1987, p. 34) 'by the end of 1891 nearly 40 per cent of total enrolments at the Working Men's College were female'.

Details

Unfortunately early graduation records held by RMIT University Archives sometimes only include initials for first names, so it is difficult to identify early female graduates.

Per an early diploma register held by RMIT University Archives, the earliest known woman to graduate may have been Miss Myrie Phillippa Shappere, who was awarded a Public Analyst Certificate in 1910. She then received a Diploma in 1912 (S94000007, c.1903-c.1939, pp. 2 and 5, RMIT University Archives). Shappere would have studied at the Working Men's College for 5 years to receive these two awards.

Some early female enrolments included:

  • 29 June 1887 - Minnie Long enrolled in French classes.
  • 11 October 1887 - Miss R. and Miss L. Heollander enrolled in Freehand Drawing and Elocution classes.
  • 26 October 1887 - Isabella Phelan enrolled in Grammar and Arithmetic.

Note: The majority of this research was conducted by RMIT University Archivist Michelle Novacco and was found in an email response to a research enquiry received by the RMIT University Archives. The email was dated 20 February 2019.

Sources used to compile this entry: 'The Working Men's College', Leader (Melbourne, Victoria), 9 April 1887, p. 29. Also available at http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198033587; DIPLOMA COURSES 1903-1939 (with gaps) Working Men's College and Melbourne Technical College, c. 1903 - c. 1939, Item no. S94000007, Series S0559; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives; Murray-Smith, Stephen and Dare, Anthony John, The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Hyland House Publishing Pty Limited, South Yarra, Victoria, 1987.

Related Organisations

Archival Resources

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives

  • DIPLOMA COURSES 1903-1939 (with gaps) Working Men's College and Melbourne Technical College, c. 1903 - c. 1939, Item no. S94000007, Series S0559; Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University Archives. Details

Published Resources

Books

  • Murray-Smith, Stephen and Dare, Anthony John, The Tech: A Centenary History of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Hyland House Publishing Pty Limited, South Yarra, Victoria, 1987. Details

Newspaper Articles

Created: 7 December 2021, Last modified: 10 December 2024