Florence Campbell (educator)

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Florence Campbell
Campbell in 1926
Born
Florence Eva McKenzie Campbell

(1877-02-24)24 February 1877
New South Wales, Australia
Died20 July 1955(1955-07-20) (aged 78)
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
OccupationHeadmistress
Employer(s)NSW Department of Education
Sydney Girls High School

Florence Campbell (24 February 1877 – 20 July 1955) was an Australian educator. She served as headmistress of Sydney Girls High School from 1919 to 1941.

Life[edit]

Florence Eva McKenzie Campbell was born on the Clarence River on 24 February 1877.[1][2] She was the daughter of Mary Layton (née Archibald) (d. 1928) and Samuel Campbell.[3][4] She was educated at the Grafton superior public school, appearing in several school entertainments.[5]

Campbell was appointed a pupil teacher on probation at Palmer's Island public school in 1896.[6] She was promoted to teacher at Grafton in June 1898.[7]

Grafton matriculated and gained entry to the University of Sydney in 1903.[8] In the third year of her Bachelor of Arts her name appeared on the order of merit for English, French and history[9] and she was awarded her degree in April 1907.[10]

She was next appointed to Wagga Wagga, Petersham, Grafton and Fort Street high schools, before taking over as headmistress at West Maitland High School in 1914.[3]

In 1919 Campbell was appointed the second headmistress of Sydney Girls High School (SGHS), taking over from Lucy Garvin who had led the school for 35 years since its inception in 1883.[11] In 1921 she oversaw the school's move from its original site in Elizabeth Street in the city to the newly built premises at Moore Park, on the site of the former zoo.[12]

Campbell was patron of the committee set up to organise celebrations for SGHS's 50th anniversary,[13] including a Jubilee Ball in July,[14] an inter-denominational service,[15] a birthday dinner for 500[16] and a garden party in school grounds in October 1933.[17]

Campbell was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal in 1937.[18]

She retired from SGHS in December 1941 after 23 years' service.[19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ New South Wales Births: Campbell Florence E M, registration number 12695/1877; father Samuel; mother Mary; district Maclean
  2. ^ "Miss Florence Campbell, B.A." Sunday Times. No. 2090. New South Wales, Australia. 21 February 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b "Girls' High School Principal". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XCIX, no. 2567. New South Wales, Australia. 12 March 1919. p. 5. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Late Mrs. Campbell". Sunday Times. No. 2187. New South Wales, Australia. 1 January 1928. p. 3. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Grafton Superior Public School Entertainment". Clarence and Richmond Examiner. New South Wales, Australia. 7 December 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Local and General News". The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser. Vol. 11, no. 559. New South Wales, Australia. 31 December 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Public Service Gazette". Evening News. No. 9679. New South Wales, Australia. 15 June 1898. p. 7. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "University of Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. No. 7421. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1903. p. 12. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "University of Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. No. 8598. New South Wales, Australia. 22 December 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "The Degree List". The Daily Telegraph. No. 8707. New South Wales, Australia. 29 April 1907. p. 6. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "G.H.S. Headmistress". The Sun. No. 2708. New South Wales, Australia. 6 March 1919. p. 5 (Final Extra). Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Educational". Daily Examiner. Vol. 10, no. 1793. New South Wales, Australia. 27 May 1921. p. 1. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "The Life of Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. 3, no. 35. New South Wales, Australia. 28 March 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Girls' High School Ball". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. 3, no. 121. New South Wales, Australia. 6 July 1933. p. 5. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "The Churches". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 880. New South Wales, Australia. 9 October 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "After Fifty Years". The Sun. No. 7419. New South Wales, Australia. 10 October 1933. p. 14 (Final Extra). Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Jubilee Party". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 886. New South Wales, Australia. 16 October 1933. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Awards Made of Special Coronation Medals". The Labor Daily. No. 4191. New South Wales, Australia. 12 May 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Women's News.—S.G.H.S. Principal Retires". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 442. New South Wales, Australia. 19 December 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.