Timeline
We are compiling a timeline of key dates related to the study of History at St Andrews, and the participation of women in the study of History at St Andrews. This is a work in progress.
| Year | |
| 1707 | Chair of Divinity and Ecclesiastical History established in St Mary’s College (one of just 10 professorships in the University at the time) |
| 1747 | Chair of Civil History established (from earlier Chair of Humanity) as part of the creation of the United College; was later renamed Chair of Civil and Natural History (1850) and then Chair of Natural History (1897) |
| 1875 | Universities (Scotland)(Degrees to Women) Bill was supported by eight out of fourteen professors at St Andrews – but was unsuccessful in parliament |
| 1877 | St Andrews created the ‘Literate in Arts’ (later, ‘Lady Literate in Arts’, LLA) qualification, to enable women to be examined and accredited at a level similar to that of a university degree |
| 1878 | History became one of the subjects offered in the LLA. |
| 1889 | Universities (Scotland) Act passed in parliament. Enabled women to become students at the Scottish universities; and also implemented various reforms to governance and to degree programmes. |
| 1892 | First women matriculate at St Andrews as degree students Creation of University Lectureship in History (not yet filled) |
| 1895 | Agnes Forbes Blackadder becomes first woman to graduate MA at St Andrews (but not in History) |
| 1896 | James Mackinnon appointed University Lecturer in History (served to 1908) |
| 1900 | First (male) students graduated with MA Honours in History |
| 1903 | First female students graduated with MA Honours in History: Elizabeth Steele Hutton and Helen Douglas-Irvine |
| 1908 | John D. Mackie appointed University Lecturer in Modern History |
| 1910 | changes to University Ordinances introduced the possibility of specialisation (e.g. in History) for Ordinary degrees [in addition to Honours degrees] |
| 1918 | Janet Isabella Low served as temporary Lecturer in Modern History for 1918-19 [while Mackie was on war service]; later created the Janet Low prize in Modern History. |
| 1920 | Introduction of PhD research degrees |
| 1921 | John W. Williams (1885-1957) appointed University Lecturer in History (became Chair, 1929-55) [see Who was Who; paywall] |
| 1925 | William Burn (1904-66) appointed as Assistant to the Lecturer in Modern History (later became Lecturer in American and Colonial History, resigned 1937) [See DNB; paywall] |
| 1927 | First woman PhD in History: Edith E. MacQueen Ronald Cant appointed as Lecturer in Scottish (and Mediaeval) History |
| 1928 | Second woman PhD in History: Edith Thomson |
| 1929 | Anonymous donor (Edward Harkness): creation of Chair of History (John W. Williams, to 1955) and Lectureship in American & Colonial History (William Burn, to 1937) |
| 1935 | Caroline Doris Ketelbey (1896-1990) appointed as Assistant Lecturer in Modern History (1945: Lecturer; 1956 Senior Lecturer; retired 1958) |
| 1945 | Postwar expansion of the department of History |
| 1950 | There were now 5 lecturers in History (including modern, mediaeval, economic and ‘American and colonial’), as well as Williams (professor) and Cant (soon-to-be reader), |
| 1954 | Creation of Bonar Chair of Modern Social and Economic History, in Queen’s College Dundee: Donald Macdonald Third woman PhD in History: Elizabeth Menzies (held a temporary lectureship in the Dundee department to 1956) |
| 1955 | Retirement of John Williams. Reorganisation of History teaching and departments: ‘Modern History’ now split into ‘Mediaeval’ and ‘Modern’, each with a professor. But also, teaching subjects of Scottish history and Economic history. Norman Gash (1912-2009) appointed Chair of Modern History (retired 1980) [See Who Was Who; paywall] Lionel Butler (1923-1981) appointed to Chair of Mediaeval History (moved to Royal Holloway, 1973) [see Who was Who; paywall] |
| 1956 | Dr Margaret Lambert (1906-1995) appointed as Lecturer in Modern (European) History (resigned in 1960) |
| 1961 | Lorna Walker (d. 2023) appointed as Warden of University Hall, and Lecturer in Mediaeval History |
| 1964 | Ann Kettle appointed as a Lecturer in Mediaeval History |
| 1966 | Anne Chaloner Wright (1924-1981) appointed as Warden of Hamilton Hall, and Lecturer in Modern History (in post until her death 1981) |
| 1971 | Dr Patricia Allan (later Patricia Lucie) appointed in Modern History as Lecturer in American History (appointed January 1971, resigned autumn 1973) Dr Barbara Crawford appointed as Lecturer in Mediaeval History (but had been temporary lecturer earlier) |
| 1977 | Dr Jane Dawson appointed as first Glenfiddich Research Fellow in Scottish History (for two years) |
| c1979 | Dr Maria José Rodriguez-Salgado lectured in Modern History (till c.1982) |
| 1992 | Creation of the School of History and International Relations |
| 1995 | According to the University Calendar staff lists: * Mediaeval History had 12 academic staff, of whom 6 were female * Modern History had 14 academic staff, all male * Scottish History had 5 academic staff, all male (plus 4 research fellows, one of whom was female) |
| 2003 | Creation of the School of History |
| 2009 | Frances Andrews promoted to professor (first female professor in History) |
Sources:
St Andrews University Calendars, 1905 onwards (especially the short history in the 1965-66 volume)
Robert Anderson, ‘The development of History teaching in the Scottish universities, 1894-1939′, Journal of Scottish Historical Studies 32 (2012): 50-73
Ronald Cant, The University of St Andrews: a short history (1948, revised edn 2002)
Bruce P. Lenman, ‘The Teaching of Scottish History in the Scottish Universities’ The Scottish Historical Review 52 (1973): 165-90