lecturer

The history of UQ Gatton dates back to 1897, when the Queensland Agricultural College (QAC) opened as a combined agricultural college and experimental farm. This concluded a 20-year debate by farmers and politicians on ways to boost agricultural production in Queensland. Guests at the opening ceremony and the special luncheon would have marvelled to know the College would metamorphose to a high school, U.S. Army General Hospital, college of advanced education and finally a Campus of The University of Queensland. In 1927 the University of Queensland launched its Agriculture Faculty, ending Gatton's State monopoly on tertiary agricultural education. The institution was, however, already developing interests in scientific education and research. In 1942 much of the campus was requisitioned (on one day's notice) for the 153rd Station Hospital and later the 105th General Hospital of the U.S. Army. In fewer than three years these hospitals hosted more than 19,000 wounded servicemen plus 3000 Army doctors, nurses and other service personnel. The end of the War in 1945 heralded renewed interest in agricultural education. By 1969, when the first women enrolled, student numbers had trebled while international enrolments and course offerings had expanded dramatically. Most significantly the College became a purely tertiary institution. High school teaching was phased out in 1962 and the name changed back to Queensland Agricultural College, heralding the next phase - self-government. By 1986 QAC's agricultural focus had expanded to include studies such as tourism, soil and water conservation, wildlife and environmental management, property valuation and food technology. Highlights included two Australian firsts - college training for National Parks and Wildlife staff, and a business degree course in hospitality management. In 1990 QAC amalgamated with the University of Queensland, as part of the new, unified national system. This abolished the binary system of universities and CAEs, consolidating the smaller ones with others to give all institutions university status. Source: gatton.uq.edu.au/about/campus-history

Flickr caption is Gardner, original caption is Gardener. Helen Hamilton Gardener (1853-1925, aka Alice Chenoweth ) was a feminist writer and lecturer on the biology of sex difference; vice president of NAWSA; her papers are at Harvard: oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/~sch01023

She must have been an exordinary lady

What an interesting woman. I've written a blog post about her with some newspaper stories that I have found. Here is one of them (you can read more on my blog post): In the October 31, 1947 edition of Stars and Stripes (newspaper), the following story appeared:

Woman Advocates Jobs for Women Or Legal Polygamy Cleveland, Oct 30 (UP) -- A forceful, outspoken woman industrialist yesterday came out for legalization of polygamy as her answer to "restrictive legislation which deprives women of their equality with men in the working world." Miss Vivien Kellems, 51, president of the Kellems Co. of Westport, Conn., said before a town hall audience that "we must have polygamy or unmarried millions of women must be given equal chances with men for jobs. "Unfortunately we do not live in a Utopia where every girl is reasonably sure of getting a husband to support her. Many women work for exactly the same reason men do--because they have to." Miss Kellems' main objection was to "restrictive" laws passed against women workers, and she added that "if every man who advocates laws making it more difficult for women to work had to be responsible for the support of one of these women he might not orate so emphatically." "As it is now, polygamy is the only answer," Miss Kellems said, although she did not elaborate on the statement.

As we say here in New Zealand, she sounds like a hard case. :)

A hard case, indeed! Sorry I missed this comment when you first wrote it. I read your blog post with interest. Her theory of polygamy and women in the workforce is intriguing to say the least.