Regency Events: London Mechanics Institution Alllows for Women Members

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LONDON MECHANICS INSTITUTION Sir On Wednesday June the 2nd at a general meeting of the members of the London Mechanics Institution they were called upon to confirm a law they had passed although with great opposition at the last general meeting in March to admit females as members of the institution a thing calculated to bring it in my opinion into very great disrepute as the trans ferable tickets to admit them to the lectures were quite sufficient Now as the institution professes to in struct its members in the arts they practise of course it will be neces sary to have lectures to instruct the female mechanics in the arts they prac tise such as the getting up of linen 66 chronicling small beer & c But how will this correspond with the dignity of a scientific institution or with the designs of its founders I cannot help noticing the very partial manner in which Dr Birkbeck put the motion to the vote There were I believe three persons who spoke upon it two in favour of it and one who had the good sense to say that if it was passed into a law the institution would be subject to the admission of females of a very questionable charac ter During the time the last mem ber was speaking Dr Birkbeck amused himself with sundry con temptuous twitchings at what he was saying and hardly gave him time to say what he wished before he abruptly put the question to the vote The consequence of putting it to vote in such a hurry was that the Doctor got his own way as there was compared
with the last meeting but little op position I am Sir A MEMBER OF THE LONDON MECHANICS INSTITUTION NB Our lectures for the last quar ter by Dr Birkbeck Messrs Henning Christie Buckingham Adams Barry Johnson and Blake on hydraulics and hydrostatics have been good but the members would be obliged to the latter gentleman if he would speak as if he intended them to hear him Mechanics’ Magazine. (1830). United Kingdom: Knight & Lacey.

This was groundbreaking, as the Mechanics Institute’s main goal in foundation in 1823 was to offer continuing education for working professionals outside of working hours.  That within seven years, the opportunity was extended to women helped support more broad initiatives for education opportunities for all.

More:

The London Mechanics’ Institute: Its Foundation | Birkbeck Perspectives

A History of Women’s Education in the UK – Oxford Royale

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