Sarah Elizabeth Siddons Mair (Sally) 1846-1941

Sarah was only nineteen when she founded the Edinburgh Essay Society in 1865 which became the Edinburgh Debating Society in 1869. The importance of the Debating Society was that for the first time it enabled women to discuss public affairs without the fear of male scorn. The chance to express and contest ideas amongst other intelligent women gave them schooling in public speaking and confidence to embark on campaigning.

In 1866 the society debated parliamentary votes for women. Although it voted against the idea, its position changed in later years. The group acted as a seedbed of reforming activity. Its membership included most women who were active in most causes in Scotland at the time. Their focus was broadly literary and educational but became more social and political over time. She ran it until her 90th year in 1935.

Out of the debating society came, amongst other things, the “Edinburgh Association for the University Education of Women” which persuaded Professor Masson and others to set up university standard classes for women, which by their success, helped to ensure the eventual admission of women to a full university degree.

Sarah became one of the founders of St George’s school for girls and Masson Hall. She was also involved in the set up of Edinburgh hospitals along with Elsie Inglis and Sophia Jex Blake.

In 1906 she became president of the Edinburgh National Society of Women’s suffrage (Successor to Priscilla Bright) and in 1910 president of the SFSS (Scottish federation of suffrage societies) After 1918 she was honorary president of the ENSEC (Edinburgh national society for equal citizenship) and vice-president of the EWCA (Edinburgh Women’s citizens’ association).

She was granted an honorary degree LLD from Edinburgh University in 1920 for her work in women’s higher education and made a DBE in 1931.

In 1936 she wrote that: “My life has been a long and very happy one…I have watched, and, to a small extent shared in…the Awakening of Women.”