Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

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

Ruth Adler
Feminist, human rights campaigner and child welfare advocate.

Annie Altschul

Annie Altschul
Chair of Nursing Studies at Edinburgh 1976–1983.

Charlotte Auerbach

 Charlotte Auerbach
Lecturer in 1947, Professor of Genetics and Personal Chair in 1967.

James (Miranda) Barry

Dr James Barry
James (Miranda) Barry known as the first qualified female British doctor or surgeon?

Phyllis Mary Bone

Portrait of Phyllis Mary Bone by Robert Sivell.
Sculptor and Edinburgh College of Art graduate.

Mary Brennan

Dr Mary Brennan
Internationally renowned sign linguist.

Mary Brück

Mary Brück
Astronomer, astrophysicist and historian of science.

Honor Fell

Honor Fell
Attended Edinburgh University to read Zoology and was awarded a B.Sc. in 1923.

Gertrude Herzfeld

Gertrude Herzfeld
The first practising women surgeon in Scotland

Elizabeth G. K. Hewat

Elizabeth G K Hewat
The first woman to graduate with BD and PhD degrees from New College.

Elsie Inglis

Elsie Inglis
One of the first women to graduate from the University of Edinburgh.

Sophia Jex-Blake

Sophia Jex-Blake
Successfully campaigned to secure women access to a University education.

Edinburgh Seven

Sophia Jex-Blake
The Edinburgh Seven

Vivien Kellems

Vivien Kellems
Industrialist, politician and inventor who became known for her battle with the US taxman.

Jennie Lee

Jennie Lee
One of the first woman MPs, prominent socialist, and leading founder of the Open University.

Lilian Lindsay

Lilian Lindsay
First British woman to qualify as a dentist and first female president of the British Dental Association

Jessie MacLaren MacGregor

Jessie MacGregor
One of the first women to be awarded an Medical Degree from the University.

Chrystal Macmillan

Chrystal MacMillan
The University's first female science graduate, but also a pioneering feminist and pacifist.

Christina Cruikshank Miller

Christina Cruikshank Miller
One of the first five women to be elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Noreen Murray

Noreen Murray
Molecular geneticist who helped develop a vaccine against hepatitis B.

Flora Philip

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

Isabella Pringle
Missionary, child health pioneer, and the first female Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Anne Redpath

Anne Redpath, In A Mirror
First woman to become an Academician of the Royal Scottish Academy and an influential member of the Scottish art world.

Marion Ross

Marion Ross
Pioneer in X-rays and superconductivity.

Arabella Scott

Advocate for women's suffrage and active speaker in Scotland.

Margaret Scott Wright

Margaret Scott Wright
First professor of nursing in the UK and first Chair of Nursing Studies in Europe.

Elsie Stephenson

Elsie Stephenson
The University's first Director of the Nursing Studies Unit in 1956.

Elizabeth (Bessie) Watson

Elizabeth (Bessie) Watson - Scotland's youngest suffragette
Scotland's youngest Suffragette.