Flora, Louisa and Eliza Stevenson

Flora’s first educational project was an evening literacy class for "messenger girls" in her own home.

Flora and Louisa were involved in the movement to open university education to women, and, as founder members of the Edinburgh Ladies Educational Assn they were at the first course of lectures for women given by Professor David Masson (chair of rhetoric and English literature at Edinburgh) in 1868. At that time there was no hope of gaining admission to the universities, but the classes were taught by distinguished academics at university level with exams etc. - just no formal qualification.

The 1872 Education (Scotland) Act made it possible for women to serve on School Boards. Flora was one of the first two women to be elected, and continued in this role for her whole life, eventually becoming Chairman of the Board in 1899. The board paid a tribute by naming a new primary school after her at Comely Bank.

Flora was a strong supporter of good quality education for girls. She disapproved of girls in Edinburgh schools spending five hours on needlework each week while the boys were having lessons, though she promoted Louisa’s Edinburgh School of Cookery and Domestic Economy then seen as a great innovation and step forward for women .

Louisa campaigned specifically for women to be allowed medical training and to qualify as doctors. She joined with Sophia Jex Blake to found the Women’s Medical College. It was eventually successful as from1885 women could qualify for the new Licentiate of the Royal college of Physicians and Surgeons in Edinburgh and the faculty of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow.

All three sisters were active in the suffrage campaign.

Louisa was an executive member of the National Union of Women’s suffrage Society in the 1890’s and represented the Edinburgh Society on the parliamentary committee to handle suffragette activities among MPs.

References:

Wikipedia and The Scottish Suffragettes by Leah Leneman

Portrait is in Scottish National Gallery, image is in public domain.