Frances Mary Buss and her work for educationRidley, Annie E.
History
Frances Mary Buss and her work for education
Ridley, Annie E.
Buss, Frances Mary, 1827-1894
“202, Camden Road, Dec. 5, 1873.
“DEAR MR. CHRISTIE,
“I fully see the principle you desire to assert by
proposing me as a Life-governor of University College, and I
shall be very grateful, not only for the honour conferred on me,
if I am elected, but also for the great impetus which would be
given to women’s education, by such a recognition. University
College has been, of late years, so liberal to women that I
trust the opposition to such a course as you propose would be
less than formerly.
“I send you a pamphlet containing a sketch of the origin of our
two schools, but as we have made much progress since it was
written, and it is difficult for me to put a fair estimate on my
own share of the success, I have asked one of our lady trustees
to give you an estimate. I am sure you will shortly hear from
her.
“With many thanks,
“Believe me,
“FRANCES M. BUSS.”
At the end of 1894, when Lord Reay “deplored the loss of many
distinguished members of the college,” Miss Buss’ name appears in a very
notable list, including Lord Bowen, Lord Hannen, Sir Henry Layard,
Professor Henry Morley, Sir J. R. Seeley, and Professor Romanes.
In early days, the pressure of her own work, and in later days, the
state of her health, often prevented Miss Buss from appearing in public.
Here are two out of many invitations declined with regret on this
account—
“Faversham, Sept. 24, 1871.
“DEAR MISS BUSS,
“I begged Miss Ridley to tell you that I had not ventured
to express our very great wish that you might be present at the
Education Conference at Norwich, but I take courage now to ask,
if it is impossible for you to go, whether you would send any
written message or statement referring to any point you most
wish to draw attention to yourself. Miss Beale has sent us a
most excellent paper, giving her views on School Organization in
the form of an account of her college and its work. We hope
there will be an earnest discussion of educational topics, and
if you would take part in it by writing, if not in person, you
would greatly enhance the value of the conference. I do not know
if Miss Ridley or Miss Gurney is going, but, _faute de mieux_, I
need not say how glad I should be to read any communication of
yours.
“I do not yet know on what day our conference is to be. It will
form part of the work of the Education Section of the congress.
“Ever truly yours,
“EMILY A. SHIRREFF.”
“Queen’s College, Oxford,
“July 7, 1893.
“MY DEAR MISS BUSS,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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