Philippa Fawcett 1868 – 1948
Mathematician, educationalist, suffragist, civil servant.
4 April 1868 -10 June 1948
Education
Brought up in a politically active, intellectually stimulating, household (mother Millicent Fawcett and father Henry Fawcett).
Educated at Clapham Middle School then Clapham High School excelling at mathematics. Received extra coaching in maths from George Barnes Atkinson of Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
1885-1887 Attended courses in pure and applied mathematics and mechanics at University College, London and studied chemistry at Bedford College to prepare to go to Cambridge.
Some Key Achievements and Interests
Awarded a Winkworth scholarship to study mathematics at Newnham College, Cambridge where she was coached by Ernest William Hobson of Christ’s College. (Newnham was founded for women 1871 but unable to award degrees to women until 1948.)
Expected to do well in the mathematics Tripos (which women were allowed to take from 1880) but, for women at that time, any grading was unofficial and without a degree being awarded women could also not be recognised as a ‘wrangler’ (a student who gains first class honours in the final year of the degree in mathematics at Cambridge – a highly distinguished title).
1890 Successful in Part I of Tripos with results above that of the Senior Wrangler. This success was widely broadcast and held as proof that women were mentally capable of studying mathematics but that mathematics had to be taught well to girls at school.
The Telegraph reported:
Once again has woman demonstrated her superiority in the face of an incredulous and somewhat unsympathetic world. …… And now the last trench has been carried by Amazonian assault, and the whole citadel of learning lies open and defenceless before the victorious students of Newnham and Girton… There is no longer any field of learning in which the lady student does not excel. Miss Fawcett has added the last, and possibly most coveted laurel wreath to grace the lofty browser womanhood. We are more than gratified by this result because it removes from our minds one of those lingering doubts which have sometimes interfered with the full and frank admission of feminine superiority. [quoted in Philippa-Fawcett-biography-by-Dr-Stephen-Siklos.pdf (cam.ac.uk)]
1891 Achieved first class in Part II of Tripos.
1892 Appointed fellow of University College, London. Her peer, Geoffrey Thomas Bennett, who also achieved first class and was appointed a fellow became a fellow of St John’s College, was awarded a university prize for mathematics and lectured at the university none of which were open to a woman.
Newnham awarded Fawcett the Marion Kennedy scholarship allowing her a further year for research and the publication of a paper on fluid dynamics.
1892-1902 College lecturer in mathematics at Newnham College preparing other women to prepare for the Tripos.
1899-1900 World tour with Blanche Athena Clough.
1901 With mother, Millicent Fawcett, visited South Africa.
1902-1905 Worked in South Africa helping establish a school system and train maths teachers.
1905 Principal Assistant to the Director of Education at the London County Council (LCC), the first professional woman to be appointed to the Council’s permanent staff. In her time with the Council played a central role in developing secondary schools and introducing a scheme of county council scholarships to support students.
1920 Designated Assistant Education Officer (higher education) at the Council.
Supporter of the League of Nations Union (LNU) becoming vice-chairman of the London Regional Federation.
On the executive committee of the London and National Society for Women’s Service (renamed the Fawcett Society in 1953), and from 1945 President.
1907-1922 Associate at Newnham College.
1934 Retired.
Issues
Unable to obtain a degree when had studied and passed Cambridge university exams. Became one of the ‘Steamboat Ladies’. Between 1904 -1907 women could travel to Trinity College Dublin to be granted a BA or MA degree in arts or medicine in accordance with an agreement between Oxford and Cambridge universities and Trinity College. Without recognition of their academic studies many women were disadvantaged competing for appointments. (Steamboat ladies (act. 1904–1907) | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (oxforddnb.com))
Strove not to draw attention to herself and invite judgment as an eccentric woman knowing she was.
Legacy
1938 the Fawcett Building at Newnham College named after her.
The Centre for Mathematical Sciences (Cambridge) established a Philippa Fawcett Internship Programme to provide research opportunities for young women passionate about mathematics.
Philippa Fawcett Drive on the West Cambridge site is named in her honour.
Connection to Bloomsbury
1884-1938 lived or was based at 2 Gower Street, Bloomsbury initially with her mother Millicent and Agnes Garrett.
Female networks including:
Fawcett extended family and connections, particularly her mother Millicent.
Blanche Athena Clough, Clotilde Bayne, Constance Crommelin, Dora Pease, Margaret Tabor.
Further reading:
Philippa Garrett Fawcett (agnesscott.org)
The Woman Who Bested the Men at Math | History| Smithsonian Magazine
Philippa-Fawcett-biography-by-Dr-Stephen-Siklos.pdf (cam.ac.uk)