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] |
| 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 |
| 1927 | Ronald Cant appointed as Lecturer in Scottish (and Mediaeval) History |
| 1928 | Second woman PhD in History: Edith Thomson |
| 1929 | Anonymous donor: 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) |
| 1950 | As well as Williams (professor) and Cant (soon-to-be reader), there were now 5 lecturers in History (including modern, mediaeval, economic and ‘American and colonial’) |
| 1954 | Creation of Bonar Chair of Modern Social and Economic History, in Queen’s College Dundee: Donald Macdonald |
| 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 appointed as Lecturer in Modern (European) History (resigned in 1960) |
| 1961 | Lorna Walker 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 (c1925-1981) appointed as Warden of Hamilton Hall, and Lecturer in Modern History (in post until her death 1981) |
| 1971 | Barbara Crawford appointed as Lecturer in Mediaeval History (but had been temporary lecturer earlier) |
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