Talk:Emily Davison
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography. For more information, visit the project page. | ||
| Start | This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. [FAQ] | ||
Earlier, 213.78.91.144 had a question about exactly what Ms. Davidson was protesting in prison. I believe she was protesting the practice of force-feeding prisoners, although the original statement was unclear. Can anyone clear this up? Scott Burley 05:00, May 5, 2004 (UTC)
Contents |
[edit] Oxford degree
The article states that Davison gained "a first-class degree" from Oxford University, but this can't be strictly true since Oxford didn't begin granting degrees to women until 1920. Does anyone have reliable information? Perhaps St Hugh's College Oxford would be a good place to find out -- opr would that be "original research"?! Flapdragon 09:48, 27 Apr 2005 (UTC)
- Her picture shows her in graduate gown, hood and cap, so she clearly gained a degree from somewhere. Various sources reveal that she began her studies at Royal Holloway, Oxford; but all go on to state that she went on to Oxford, where she gained a first-class degree. Might Oxford have sent her to get a London degree? I know that female students at Durham could be examined for London degrees before Durham's supplementary charter allowing women to be given degrees was awarded. TSP 22:09, 6 May 2005 (UTC)
- The "Women's Who's Who" source quoted in the external link states that she had a BA from Royal Holloway (London), so presumably it would be the gown and hood of that degree. As for "graduate cap", graduates and undergrads wear the same cap, at least at Oxford, and elsewhere too I'd have thought. Incidentally, the tassle of her cap ("mortar board") appears to be bunched up on the top, rather than hanging down freely as it is worn at Oxford -- though it's hard to be sure from the picture. Flapdragon 03:29, 9 May 2005 (UTC)
- I'd forgotten about undergrads wearing mortar boards - we don't have them at Durham; but anyway, she is clearly wearing a hood, which (barring the Literates' Hood, which it doesn't look like and which I'm not sure anyone this century has worn in seriousness) would seem to indicate graduate status. As you say, this is presumably her London degree. Interestingly, Royal Holloway themselves claim that, while she went there, she did not gain a degree there; but then they claim that she received an Oxford degree, which she plainly could not have. The Morning Post quoting of the Women's Who's Who should, as you say, probably be considered our best source - I wrote the comment above before I found it. TSP 09:47, 9 May 2005 (UTC)
- I think contacting St Hugh's would be perfectly acceptable, by the way. I've contacted Royal Holloway to ask if they can provide any more information. TSP 10:18, 9 May 2005 (UTC)
- According to that link [1], "She came to Royal Holloway to study English in 1892. However, she completed her degree at Oxford University where graduated with a first class honours degree." I think this might be a slightly inaccurate way of saying she "had" a degree in the sense of having passed the exams, thereby qualifying for a first-class degree that as a woman she could not actually receive. The graduating part is seen as almost irrelevant -- if you haven't got round to it yet you can actually get a certificate that says you have "satisfied the examiners" and are entitled to "supplicate" for a degree which technically you don't actually have till they award it to you in a ceremony or in absentia. That's the bit she would have missed out on, and the portrait in academic dress therefore can't be her at Oxford. But it seems likely that she gained some kind of qualification at Royal Holloway before going on to Oxford to complete her studies -- or, as you implied before, that she was actually continuing to study for a Royal Holloway degree while at Oxford. Flapdragon 10:49, 10 May 2005 (UTC)
- The "Women's Who's Who" source quoted in the external link states that she had a BA from Royal Holloway (London), so presumably it would be the gown and hood of that degree. As for "graduate cap", graduates and undergrads wear the same cap, at least at Oxford, and elsewhere too I'd have thought. Incidentally, the tassle of her cap ("mortar board") appears to be bunched up on the top, rather than hanging down freely as it is worn at Oxford -- though it's hard to be sure from the picture. Flapdragon 03:29, 9 May 2005 (UTC)
A very kind Royal Holloway archivist has got back to me with some definite details. His information is so good that I will include it in full here:
Further to my previous email regarding Emily Wilding Davison, it seems that the information you quoted from the Morning Post article was correct. I wasn't happy not having a definite answer so I contacted Senate House who have confirmed that she matriculated in September 1902, was awarded intermediate arts in 1906 and graduated with a 3rd class hons. in modern languages in 1908 (all from the University of London and all some years after she had left Royal Holloway). As such, her academic career ran as follows: 1892 - 93, attended Royal Holloway 1895, took a First Class in the English Final Honour School, Oxford 1902 - 1908, as above resulting in an honours degree from the University of London.
I will try to work this into the article! TSP 11:55, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)
- Great stuff. Good to have this sorted out authoritatively. Flapdragon 15:56, 2 Jun 2005 (UTC)
[edit] place of birth: London or Morpeth?
The article states she was "born in London" but according to this website (North East England History Pages) she was "from Longhorsley, to the north of Morpeth", which would seem to lend credence to the idea she was born if not brought up there. It also says that "Her body was brought to Morpeth for burial". Anyone know the facts?
- Emily Wilding Davison Born..Blackheath, London, 11th October 1872.Lived, in her latter years with her mother in Longhorsley, 5 miles north of Morpeth, Northumberland. Buried in St Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Morpeth, Northumberland. Emily never lived in Morpeth.
This is great but where does it come from? Flapdragon 16:13, 25 August 2005 (UTC)
- From Northumberland County Council Website:
- "Born in Blackheath, London. Emily lived with her mother in a small house opposite the "Shoulder of Mutton" Inn in the village of Longhorsley." Henriksdal 14:54, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Too Strong?
"Facts surrounding the event, including newsreel footage, have led experts to doubt the popular notion that she intended to kill herself."
This sentence, with its reference to "experts," states pretty definitively that she didn't mean to kill herself. I don't think we should come down quite so strong... I'm not too familiar with the literature on the case, but from what I do know, it's not as clear cut as this article makes it sound.
- The article, as it stands, still overdoes the scepticism about whether she meant to kill herself. If there are "experts" who doubt the popular notion, then they should be named.
- Her colleagues did not have any doubts:
- Emmeline Pankhurst, founder of the Women's Social and Political Union, described the contribution Emily Davison believed her death would make in her autobiography, My Own Story.
- She writes: "Emily Davison clung to her conviction that one great tragedy, the deliberate throwing into the breach of a human life, would put an end to the intolerable torture of women.
- "And so she threw herself at the king's horse, in full view of the king and queen and a great multitude of their majesties' subjects." -- Picapica 10:51, 1 October 2005 (UTC)
-
- Yes but they have reason to say that she did - it reminds me of how so many people make out Laura Ingalls Wilder not using "obey" in her wedding vows as some kind of feminists statement or standing up for women's rights when in reality she just didn't want to make a promise to Almanzo that she potentially couldn't keep! PMA 04:14, 11 January 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Sources
Anyone know the identity of the British History Textbook" cited as a source? If not let's delete this odd reference. Flapdragon 18:39, 26 November 2005 (UTC)
[edit] Category: Horse-related accidents
Should this article be in this category seeing as there is no proof that it was an accident? Abbyemery 19:49, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
