Women in history
A selection of Inspiring Women from history affiliated to the University.
Thanks go to Development and Alumni, Nursing Studies, and Lothian Health Service Archive for their contribution and assistance to this section of the exhibition.
Ruth Adler
Feminist, human rights campaigner and child welfare advocate.
Annie Altschul
Chair of Nursing Studies at Edinburgh 1976–1983.
Charlotte Auerbach
Lecturer in 1947, Professor of Genetics and Personal Chair in 1967.
James (Miranda) Barry
James (Miranda) Barry known as the first qualified female British doctor or surgeon?
Phyllis Mary Bone
Sculptor and Edinburgh College of Art graduate.
Mary Brennan
Internationally renowned sign linguist.
Mary Brück
Astronomer, astrophysicist and historian of science.
Honor Fell
Attended Edinburgh University to read Zoology and was awarded a B.Sc. in 1923.
Gertrude Herzfeld
The first practising women surgeon in Scotland
Elizabeth G. K. Hewat
The first woman to graduate with BD and PhD degrees from New College.
Elsie Inglis
One of the first women to graduate from the University of Edinburgh.
Sophia Jex-Blake
Successfully campaigned to secure women access to a University education.
Edinburgh Seven
The Edinburgh Seven
Vivien Kellems
Industrialist, politician and inventor who became known for her battle with the US taxman.
Jennie Lee
One of the first woman MPs, prominent socialist, and leading founder of the Open University.
Lilian Lindsay
First British woman to qualify as a dentist and first female president of the British Dental Association
Jessie MacLaren MacGregor
One of the first women to be awarded an Medical Degree from the University.
Chrystal Macmillan
The University's first female science graduate, but also a pioneering feminist and pacifist.
Christina Cruikshank Miller
One of the first five women to be elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Noreen Murray
Molecular geneticist who helped develop a vaccine against hepatitis B.
Flora Philip
First female member of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society and one of the first women to graduate from the University in 1893.
Isabella Pringle
Missionary, child health pioneer, and the first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Anne Redpath
First woman to become an Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy and an influential member of the Scottish art world.
Marion Ross
Pioneer in X-rays and superconductivity.
Arabella Scott
Advocate for women's suffrage and active speaker in Scotland.
Margaret Scott Wright
First professor of nursing in the UK and first Chair of Nursing Studies in Europe.
Elsie Stephenson
The University's first Director of the Nursing Studies Unit in 1956.
Elizabeth (Bessie) Watson
Scotland's youngest Suffragette.