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Dublin University Elizabethan Society The Elizabethan Society of Trinity College Dublin was founded at a meeting held on the 7th of October 1905, shortly after the admittance of the first female students to the university. Mrs. Traill, the provosts wife agreed to be the president of the society. [1] As the first and only society open to such students, it was “intended to act as a social and literary centre for women students”.[2]
The women of the society would come together every Wednesday during Michaelmas and Hilary term to partake in debates, but also held numerous other events, from elegant balls and instructional talks, to social volunteerism and theatrical events in the early days. By 1924, the society had begun the practise of annually awarding medals and prizes for excellence in oratory and composition. During the session of 1928-1929, the society branched out with the foundation of the Elizabethan Literary and Debating Society, and the Elizabethan Drama Society (an early fore-runner of today's Players' society). A Hockey club was also established as a branch of the Eliz in 1905. It became independent in 1906. [3] Within ten years the Elizabethan society would return to its original form. [4] It remained as a platform for public debate for women in college. In the sixties ‘The Eliz’ (as it was more commonly known), was universally acknowledged as performing many of the functions of a student union- providing many facilities, notably including dining (the college dining hall not being open to women students at this point). The Eliz held a garden party each year which was a highlight of he college social calendar. In 1965, the celebrated its diamond jubilee with a masked ball held in its honour. The 1960s was an eventful decade for the Eliz, one of their debating teams- comprised of Rosamond Mitchell and Aoileann Ní Éigeartaigh- won the prestigious Irish Times' Debating Competition.
Although the Philosophical society did not allow women full membership until 1968, they allowed women to not spectate much earlier, from the 1950s onwards. The first woman to address the Phil during one of it's weekly debates was Rowan Blake-James who was President of the Elizabethan Society when she was invited to speak at the Phil in 1963. [5] Iris Murdoch was one of the first women invited to address the society in November 1964. The Elizabethan society's numbers began to dewindle towards the end of the 70s, due to the inclusion of women in so many other societies. Due the the good relationship between the Eliz and the Phil, it was decided that the Elizabethan society should merge with the Phil in 1982.[6] [7]
References
edit- ^ Parkes, Susan M. (ed.) "A Danger to the Men: A History of Women in Trinity College Dublin", p. 78. Dublin: Lilliput Press, 2008
- ^ Parkes, Susan M. (ed.) "A Danger to the Men: A History of Women in Trinity College Dublin", Dublin: Lilliput Press, 2008
- ^ Parkes, Susan M. (ed.) "A Danger to the Men: A History of Women in Trinity College Dublin", p. 79. Dublin: Lilliput Press, 2008
- ^ Commonwealth Universities Yearbook 1925, see pg. 21
- ^ Parkes, Susan M. (ed.) "A Danger to the Men: A History of Women in Trinity College Dublin", p 207 Dublin: Lilliput Press, 2008
- ^ Dublin University Philosophical Society, http://www.tcdphil.com/about_history.php
- ^ Bailey, Kenneth Claude "A History of Trinity College, Dublin, 1892-1945"
DU Elizabethan society
External links
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