Mistress of Girton College 1925-31

Edith Helen Major was born in Co. Antrim, the daughter of a wine
merchant. She was educated at the Methodist College, Belfast and came to
Girton to read History 1885-1888. After Girton she taught for 11 years
at Blackheath High School before becoming headmistress, first of Putney
High School then King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham. She
brought to both posts a lightness of touch that belied an unshakeable
belief in high standards and hard work. She took office at Girton at an
important point in relations between the women’s colleges and the
University, following Dame Bertha Phillpotts’ work on the Statutory
Commission. Miss Major’s personal qualities were well suited to
conciliation and helped to consolidate the position of women within the
University. The portrait is a copy of that painted for King Edward VI
High School as Miss Major refused to sit for another for Girton. Janet
Bacon, her obituarist, claims that it does little justice to the charm
of her personality. Miss Major was awarded the CBE in 1931 for services
to education and received an Honorary LLD from Belfast in 1932.