Education
Women in Education
Women's education in Canada in the last half of the 19th and throughout the 20th centuries saw increasing opportunities for women, especially in higher education. In the 20th century, there was a larger spotlight put on women's academic achievements and and their careers.
Women's Schools
(Scrapbook #2, 1918-1921)
An Ottawa Ladies College owned by the Presbyterian Church was one of the most modern girls schools in the country. The building (originally opened in 1872) cost $140,000. Since its opening it had had four "lady principles," and the school had been able to accommodate over 100 students. The girls attending this school would learn things such as music, art, elocution, physical culture, and household science.
Another article in scrapbook #2 documented the teaching at the Carleton School for Girls. It was described as "one of the most population educational institutions for young ladies in the city." The staff were said to give attention to each individual student, which was done by keeping class sizes small. The girls had courses in subjects like English, math, French and Latin, as well as music, art, wood carving, and sewing.
Recognition of Women's Education in Newspaper
(Scrapbook #3, 1934-35)
Women who graduated from the Ottawa Civic Hospital had their names published in the newspaper for this achievement. At the ceremony for the Fifty-two nurses receiving their graduation diplomas and pins, they were told by Mayor P. J Nolan that they are "splendidly equipped with youth, health, training and a desire to serve, and I wish you success and happiness in your work which you should hold as a sacred trust." This demonstrates the appreciation of women being educated and in the workforce being recognized by the wider public.
(Scrapbook 5, 1940-41)
At the beginning of the 1940's, the newspaper highlighted the opportunities of military service for the nursing graduates of the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Also, National Health, Social Service, Red Cross, and Victorian Order were all noted as placed that nurses could be needed.
Another article made a note of the lack of Ottawa girls graduating from the Ottawa Civil Hospital. It raised the question of why Ottawa girls were not taking advantage of this opportunity, and it casts some disappointment onto the lack of interest in this sort of training by girls in Ottawa. This article was encouraging girls in Ottawa to take the opportunity of nursing training in the city. Nursing training seemed to have been an important topic at the time, further illustrating the recognition and importance of women becoming educated and joining the workforce, specifically in healthcare.
A side by side of the Ottawa Civic Hospital when it was newly built vs the Ottawa Civil Hospital in the modern day.
Women in Education system
(Scrapbook #3, 1934-35)
Mrs. W. Cowling Gullock was the first women to be appointed as Chairman for the Ottawa Public School Board in 1934. Women during this time were not only gaining more accessibility to education but were also open to important roles within the school system.
Women in the Libraries
Scrapbook #5, 1940-41
By 1940, women were beginning to fill more and more positions in Ottawa's education system, not least the libraries. Upon the resignation of G.H. Dunbar from the Civic Library Board, he requested a woman fill his position, and one did - a Mrs. Dorman.
