Morley, Professor Edith Julia (1875-1964) OBE, literary scholar and
suffragette
Born in London, she studied in King’s College, London, later becoming a teacher there. In 1902 she also accepted a post as an assistant lecturer in English Literature and Language at Reading College, later becoming a full lecturer. In 1907 the college was about to gain university status and awarded professorships to all heads of
department, except her. Refusing to accept such blatant discrimination against women, she tendered her resignation, which was refused. She continued to agitate and eventually in October 1908 she was awarded her professorship. She was
the first woman professor at any British university. The university resented her success, and undermined her by awarding her a chair in English language, when literature was her main discipline; she was also denied a male assistant, as it was said no male academic could be expected to work under a woman. The University was later to recognise her teaching skills and commitment to her students.
She was an enthusiastic suffragette in the Reading branch of the Women's Social and Political Union. Her position meant she took a prominent place in mass marches and meetings and even had her goods seized and sold because of her refusal to pay taxes. She was also an enthusiastic Fabian socialist, and involved in local politics as a founder of the local Townswomen’s Guild and as a local magistrate. During the Second World War she set up the Reading Refugee Committee and fought passionately for better treatment for refugees; for this work she gained an OBE in 1950. She died and was buried in Reading in 1964.
Link to the Dictionary of National Biography (only from a Library terminal).
Edith Morley
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