Margaret Sutherland who passed away on 29 March 2011 brings to an end the story of a long and remarkable life dedicated to public service and the academia. It was her illustrious career, her notable achievements, her unique contributions, her collegiality and many ‘firsts’ which were inspirational, making it possible for other women to follow in her footsteps. She was one of the very few women professors of her era. Margaret Sutherland is specially remembered here for her contribution as the only woman editor of a leading and prestigious journal at the time.
Margaret was the eldest of three children, born on 19 May1920 in Glasgow to Janet and George Sutherland. Her father was a Post Office supervisor. She attended Hutcheson Girls’ Grammar School and then Glasgow University to read French and German. She obtained a First and received the Herkless prize for being the most distinguished woman graduate in Arts. She trained as a teacher and gained a First in education and psychology in 1945, becoming a lecturer, then senior lecturer and reader in Queen’s University, Belfast. Her association with Northern Ireland lasted for over two decades. Margaret’s doctoral thesis was on the development of imagination in education. She lectured throughout Ireland with the Workers’ Educational Association. She was on the United Nations Association’s executive committee. Her first book Everyday Imagining and Education was published in 1971. In 1973 she was invited to apply for the Chair of Education at Leeds, where she went on to hold various key posts. She wrote Sex and Bias in 1981 in which she argued that abilities and interests should be given precedence over a child’s sex. In 1994 with Claudine Baudoux she wrote Femmes et Education: Politiques Nationales et Variations Internationales. She was passionate about Comparative Studies and in 1985 went on to write Women who teach in Universities, based on the experiences and perceptions of women academics in Germany, France, Finland and the UK.
She served on both the Education Sub-Committee of the University Grants Committee and the University Council for the Education of Teachers. Her work as a linguist was recognised by the French government. She was appointed as Chevalier in the Order of the Palmes Academiques. She visited the Soviet Union as part of a UK delegation in 1954. She was fluent in Russian. She developed an interest in Gaelic and Northern Studies. Margaret was held in high regard during her lifetime. She received honorary degrees and was invited to deliver lectures in several countries. She is best remembered for her generosity of spirit, her collegiality and encouragement of junior colleagues and students. She retired to St Andrews in 1986 and continued to work for education long after her retirement.