Breadcrumbs

Membership of the University

Emily Penrose became Principal in 1907, the first of a distinguished line of home grown principals. She had entered Somerville in her 30s and was the first woman to achieve first class in Greats. Emily Penrose staunchly believed that women should be admitted to university membership, and she was soon seen as the leading representative of the women's colleges. Her 20 year period as principal had a profound impact on Somerville and Oxford alike.

She was the first woman head of house to combine high administrative ability with high academic achievement, and committed herself fully to the struggle for recognition of women at Oxford. Her main objective was a rising of academic standards, and she believed that women should aim at taking the full degree course even if a degree would not be conferred upon them. Emily Penrose was seen as a role model to the rising generation of women academics. Her principalship saw the consolidation of the teaching staff, and the status of tutors enhanced. Somerville was the first college to attract endowment for research.

In 1920 Oxford University granted women the right to matriculation and all degrees, and to membership of Convocation and Congregation, faculties and faculty boards. Somerville presented its first candidates for matriculation and for degrees in October of that year.

“We feel it was you who made it inevitable that women should be recognised in the university”. Helen Wardell, 1925

In 1925 the College charter was granted, a fitting culmination to the end of Miss Penrose’s Principalship.  On retirement, she was awarded a DCL (Somerville’s first) and was later made a Dame of the Order of the British Empire).

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