Margery Fry, 1874-1958, Warden of University House, photograph 1920, UC10/i/3, Cadbury Research Library
Margery Fry, 1874-1958, Warden of University House; prison reformer. Sara Margery Fry was born into a Quaker family in London. She was educated at home and then spent a year at Penelope Lawrence’s boarding school at Brighton, later named Rodean. Her parents allowed her to attend Somerville College, Oxford in 1894, where she studied mathematics for three years but could not take a degree. She became Librarian at Somerville in 1899, and in 1904 she was appointed Warden at University House, the first women’s hall of residence at the University of Birmingham. She played an important role in the campaign for a purpose built hall of residence, and helped to create a supportive community of women students and staff there. She resigned as Warden in 1914 and worked with the Friends' War Victims Relief Committee in France during the First World War. She served with the Penal Reform League, later Howard League for Penal Reform from 1918 onwards. She was appointed a magistrate in 1921, and was one of the first women magistrates in Britain. In 1922 she was appointed education advisor to Holloway Prison. She was Principal of Somerville College from 1926 to 1931.
Text by Helen Fisher, University Archivist, Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.
UC10/i/3, Cadbury Research Library
Margery Fry, 1874-1958, Warden of University House, photograph 1920, UC10/i/3, Cadbury Research Library
Margery Fry, 1874-1958, Warden of University House; prison reformer. Sara Margery Fry was born into a Quaker family in London. She was educated at home and then spent a year at Penelope Lawrence’s boarding school at Brighton, later named Rodean. Her parents allowed her to attend Somerville College, Oxford in 1894, where she studied mathematics for three years but could not take a degree. She became Librarian at Somerville in 1899, and in 1904 she was appointed Warden at University House, the first women’s hall of residence at the University of Birmingham. She played an important role in the campaign for a purpose built hall of residence, and helped to create a supportive community of women students and staff there. She resigned as Warden in 1914 and worked with the Friends' War Victims Relief Committee in France during the First World War. She served with the Penal Reform League, later Howard League for Penal Reform from 1918 onwards. She was appointed a magistrate in 1921, and was one of the first women magistrates in Britain. In 1922 she was appointed education advisor to Holloway Prison. She was Principal of Somerville College from 1926 to 1931.
Text by Helen Fisher, University Archivist, Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.
UC10/i/3, Cadbury Research Library