A Landmark in Women’s Education

In the late 19th century, the academic landscape in England was undergoing significant changes, and at the forefront of this transformation was Lady Margaret Hall. Established in 1878, Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) was one of the first women’s colleges at the University of Oxford, offering women an unprecedented opportunity to pursue higher education in an era when such opportunities were scarce.

The Birth of Lady Margaret Hall
Named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of King Henry VII and a notable patron of education, Lady Margaret Hall was founded with a mission to provide women with the academic opportunities long denied to them. It was a bold experiment at a time when societal norms and institutional barriers relegated women to the periphery of intellectual life.

Unofficial Students in a Male-Dominated World
However, this progress was not without its limitations. Despite being able to earn degrees, women at LMH and other women’s colleges were often regarded as “unofficial” students. While they could attend lectures and participate in academic exercises, their status within the university was far from equal to that of male students. 

The Struggle for Full Membership
The journey toward full inclusion was a gradual one. It wasn’t until 1920 that women at Oxford, including those from Lady Margaret Hall, were finally granted full membership in the university. This change allowed them to participate fully in university life, access all its facilities, and take part in the governance and decision-making processes that shaped their academic environment.

The history of Lady Margaret Hall is a testament to the resilience and determination of the women who fought for their right to education and recognition. And in my new release, Of Gold and Shadows, feisty heroine Ami Dalton is one of those women. She strives to be recognized as an Egyptologist in Victorian England, when women were supposed to be homemakers.

 An independent female Egyptologist, England’s most eligible bachelor who’s sworn off women, and a cursed artifact…what could go wrong? Pre-order yours from your favorite bookseller or from try winning a signed copy of your own!

Credit to lead photograph goes to Herbi1922 - Self-photographed CC BY-SA 4.0
Taken from Wikipedia
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lady_Margaret_Hall_Talbot.jpg#/media/File:Lady_Margaret_Hall_Talbot.jpg