[Editor: This article, about the unveiling of a memorial to an early educator, was published in The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), 10 December 1904.]
Girls’ Grammar School.
Memorial to Miss Mackinlay.
Unveiled by the Lieutenant-Governor.
The ceremony of the unveiling of an “honours” board, erected as a memorial to the late Lady Dickson, who, as Miss Mackinlay, was one of the early headmistresses of the school, was performed by the Lieutenant-Governor (Right Hon. Sir Hugh Nelson, D.C.L.), at the Girls’ Grammar School, in the presence of a large number of past and present scholars yesterday afternoon. His Excellency was attended by Captain Harman, A.D.C. Amongst others present were Miss Wilkinson, head mistress; the trustees of the school, Messrs. E. M. Lilley, H. J. Oxley, J. L. Woolcock, B.A., and J. G. Anderson, M.A.; Mr. R. H. Roe, M.A., head master Boys’ Grammar School, and a large number of ladies, including the members of the committee who arranged for the erection of the board, consisting of Mesdames J. M. Brydon, Brennan, Gasteen, and Stitt, and Misses Armour, Cullen, M‘Intosh, and Hockings (secretary).
His Excellency said they had met together to commemorate the career of one of the earliest mistresses of the school. To him it was a most pleasing fact to see such an evidence of the lasting love and respect of those who had known her. That was one of the great objects of education. It was due to a great extent to the efforts of her whose memory they had met that afternoon to honour that the school had in those early days made rapid progress. Miss Mackinlay came to the school in the fourth year of its existence (1878), and filled the post of headmistress from that year until 1881. When she took charge of the school it had on its roll the names of only 37 pupils, but it soon afterwards increased to 78 pupils. To Miss Mackinlay belonged the credit of having inaugurated the boarder system in connection with the school, by establishing a residence for the pupils at Petrie terrace, and in 1881 there were 18 boarders. In 1878 the school carried off both Fairfax prizes. Such a school was an indispensable part of social economy, and that it was progressing was one of the most satisfactory facts that had come under his notice. In his opinion no better memorial than that chosen could have been fixed upon. The enrolment upon it of the names of those who gained honours at the school in past years was calculated greatly to stimulate and encourage present and future pupils also to have their names handed down to future generations. He had much pleasure in unveiling the board. (Applause.)
Upon performing the ceremony of unveiling the board his Excellency remarked that there was plenty of room for more names.
Mr. Roe, on behalf of the head mistress, thanked his Excellency for his kindness in performing the ceremony. Speaking from a personal acquaintanceship of the late Miss Mackinlay and her work, he (Mr. Roe) referred in the highest terms to that work. Nothing had impressed him, during a recent visit to England, more than the importance there attached to such permanent records of the gainers of honours in connection with scholastic establishments. And it was a system having very much to recommend it. He asked all present to show their appreciation of Sir Hugh Nelson’s kindness in coming there that afternoon and unveiling the board. (Applause.)
The board was designed free of charge by Mr. Dods. It is of ample dimensions, is constructed of polished pine, the names being printed on in chocolate-coloured paint. It contains four panels — Fairfax prize-winners, medallists, extra honours, and Mackinlay scholarships — on which are painted the names of pupils gaining distinction since 1878. Above the columns is carved the words, “In memorial to May Mackinlay, LL.A.; erected by her pupils.”
Source:
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), 10 December 1904, p. 13
Also published in:
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), 10 December 1904, p. 13 (Second Edition)
The Week (Brisbane, Qld.), 16 December 1904, p. 27
Editor’s notes:
A.D.C. = (abbreviation) aide-de-camp: (French, meaning “camp assistant”) a military officer who serves as an adjutant or personal assistant to a higher-ranking military officer, vice-regal appointee, member of the royal family, or a high-ranking dignitary
See: 1) “aide-de-camp: military official”, Encyclopaedia Britannica
2) “Aide-de-camp”, Wikipedia
3) “Personal aide-de-camp”, Wikipedia
B.A. = Bachelor of Arts
D.C.L. = Doctor of Civil Law
See: “Doctor of Civil Law”, Wikipedia
Fairfax prize = (in the context of Queensland in the 1870s) a monetary prize awarded to leading female scholars
See: “The Fairfax Prize”, The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.), 19 December 1908, p. 7
Hon. = an abbreviation of “honourable”, especially used as a style to refer to government ministers, or as a courtesy to members of parliament (as a style, it is commonly capitalised, e.g. “the Hon. Member”)
LL.A. = (abbreviation) Lady Literate in Arts (an Arts degree for women, which was established in Scotland in 1877); the degree was originally called L.A. (Literate in Arts), but was renamed L.L.A., so as to differentiate it from the L.A. awarded to men; the correct abbreviation should be L.L.A. (not LL.A.), but it appears that the style of abbreviation for the L.L.A. was confused with that of the LL.D. (Legum Doctor, i.e. Doctor of Laws)
See: 1) “Examinations for Ladies Literate in Arts”, Special Collections blog (University of St Andrews), 8 May 2019 [includes links to documents which use the abbreviation L.L.A.: a) “L.L.A. Examination”; b) “L.L.A. Examination for Women” (certificate); c) “L.L.A. certificate: Honours” (L.L.A. Honours papers for 1881)]
2) “Ladies of learning: A brief history of the Lady Literate in Arts diploma”, Museums Blog (University of St Andrews Museums), 24 June 2020
3) Elisabeth Margaret Smith, “To walk upon the grass: The impact of the University of St Andrews’ Lady Literate in Arts, 1877-1892”, University of St Andrews, 2014, pp. iv [“In 1877 the University of St Andrews initiated a unique qualification, the Lady Literate in Arts, which came into existence initially as the LA, the Literate in Arts, a higher certificate available to women only.”], 46 [“it was not until 1900 that this abbreviation was formally interpreted as ‘Lady Literate in Arts’”]
4) “Legum Doctor”, Wikipedia
M.A. = Master of Arts (a master’s degree awarded by universities, usually given for studies in the area of the humanities and social sciences)
Mesdames = (French) plural of “Madame”: a capitalised title of a married woman (similar to “Mrs.” in English usage), can also be used for an unmarried older woman or a mistress of a household; a formal, polite, and respectful form of address for a woman; derived from the Old French “ma dame”, meaning “my lady”
Messrs. = an abbreviation of “messieurs” (French), being the plural of “monsieur”; used in English as the plural of “Mister” (which is abbreviated as “Mr.”); the title is used in English prior to the names of two or more men (often used regarding a company, e.g. “the firm of Messrs. Bagot, Shakes, & Lewis”, “the firm of Messrs. Hogue, Davidson, & Co.”)
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