Ruth Homan (8 August 1850 – 6 November 1938)[1] was an educationist and women's welfare campaigner, who worked for many years on the London School Board.[1] She was also active in Liberal politics, and a supporter of progressive social policies.[1] The Women's Library, London holds a collection of Homan's scrapbooks and albums.[2]
Ruth Homan was born in Hoxton, London to Sir Sydney Waterlow, a philanthropist and politician, and Anna Maria (née Hickson).[1] In 1873, she married Francis Wilkes Homan, but was widowed in 1880.[1] The couple had one daughter,[1] Winifred.[3] Winifred lived with her mother at Fairseat, Tintagel, until she married Philip Stephens.[4]
Work for the London School Boardedit
Her family had been politically active, and friends of her father included Thomas Henry Huxley. When she ran for the London School Board in 1891, she had prepared herself through stints as a school manager, a probationer at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and with the Country Holidays Fund (a charity).[1] She also took cooking classes at the South Kensington School of Cookery.[1] She was elected to the School Board as the representative for Tower Hamlets, and held the role until the School Board was abolished in 1903.[1]
A supporter of the Liberal Party and advocate of progressive policies, Homan 'endorsed the development of the higher grade and evening continuation schools, the teaching of temperance principles in board school, and special teaching for 'afflicted' and delicate children.'[1] In addition to her work on the School Board, she was prominent in other charitable organisations, including the Poplar Board School Children's Boot and Clothing Help Society and the London Schools Dinners Association.[2] Homan was also a member of council of the Women's Industrial Council,[5] a vice-president of the Pupil-Teachers Association, and a member of a Club of Working Girls in the city.[1]
Homan was president of the Cornish Union of Women's Liberal Associations, as well as of the Hammersmith Women's Liberal Association.[1] Alongside other liberal, upper-middle class London women, she was a member of the feministWomen's Local Government Society (WLGS).[1]
With Stanton Coit, Leslie Stephen, and Corrie Grant,[6] Ruth Homan was a founding member of the West London Ethical Society in 1892,[7] one of the formative bodies of the Union of Ethical Societies (which became Humanists UK).[8] The West London Ethical Society, part of the early Ethical movement in the UK, appealed:
To those who have no longer a place in established religious organisations, but who yet consider that there is as good need as ever for the exposition and inculcation of the meaning and worth of the moral and inward life... to provide a centre where those who share that conviction may regularly meet, listen to, and exchange thoughts on the themes that concern human wellbeing in the widest and highest sense, unhampered by tradition and conventions that have spent their force.[6]
Deathedit
After the death of her husband Ruth Homan moved to Tintagel where she built a large house called Fairseat after her childhood home in London.[9]
Towards the end of her life, Ruth Homan lived in Cornwall, where she was president of the Tintagel Nursing Association and her local branch of the Women's Institute.[10] She also established the village's social hall.[10] She died on 6 November 1938[1] and was cremated at Plymouth Crematorium.[11]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefghijklmnoMartin, Jane (2004). "Homan [née Waterlow], Ruth (1850–1938), educationist and women's welfare campaigner". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/53682. Retrieved 5 November 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ ab"Women's Library: HOMAN, Ruth: Scrapbooks and albums". aim25.com. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
^Dyer, Peter (2005) Tintagel: a portrait of a parish. Cambridge: Cambridge Books. ISBN0-9550097-0-7; p. 356
^Report of the Royal commission on divorce and matrimonial causes. Cornell University Library. London, Pub. by H. M. Stationery off., printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode, ltd. 1912.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
ruth, homan, august, 1850, november, 1938, educationist, women, welfare, campaigner, worked, many, years, london, school, board, also, active, liberal, politics, supporter, progressive, social, policies, women, library, london, holds, collection, homan, scrapb. Ruth Homan 8 August 1850 6 November 1938 1 was an educationist and women s welfare campaigner who worked for many years on the London School Board 1 She was also active in Liberal politics and a supporter of progressive social policies 1 The Women s Library London holds a collection of Homan s scrapbooks and albums 2 Ruth HomanBornRuth Waterlow8 August 1850Hoxton LondonDied6 November 1938CornwallOccupation s Educationist CampaignerOrganization s Union of Ethical Societies London School Board Women s Local Government SocietyPolitical partyLiberal PartyMovementEthical Movement Contents 1 Life 2 Work for the London School Board 3 The Ethical Movement 4 Death 5 ReferencesLife editRuth Homan was born in Hoxton London to Sir Sydney Waterlow a philanthropist and politician and Anna Maria nee Hickson 1 In 1873 she married Francis Wilkes Homan but was widowed in 1880 1 The couple had one daughter 1 Winifred 3 Winifred lived with her mother at Fairseat Tintagel until she married Philip Stephens 4 Work for the London School Board editHer family had been politically active and friends of her father included Thomas Henry Huxley When she ran for the London School Board in 1891 she had prepared herself through stints as a school manager a probationer at St Bartholomew s Hospital and with the Country Holidays Fund a charity 1 She also took cooking classes at the South Kensington School of Cookery 1 She was elected to the School Board as the representative for Tower Hamlets and held the role until the School Board was abolished in 1903 1 A supporter of the Liberal Party and advocate of progressive policies Homan endorsed the development of the higher grade and evening continuation schools the teaching of temperance principles in board school and special teaching for afflicted and delicate children 1 In addition to her work on the School Board she was prominent in other charitable organisations including the Poplar Board School Children s Boot and Clothing Help Society and the London Schools Dinners Association 2 Homan was also a member of council of the Women s Industrial Council 5 a vice president of the Pupil Teachers Association and a member of a Club of Working Girls in the city 1 Homan was president of the Cornish Union of Women s Liberal Associations as well as of the Hammersmith Women s Liberal Association 1 Alongside other liberal upper middle class London women she was a member of the feminist Women s Local Government Society WLGS 1 From 1910 for 11 years Homan served as a Poor Law Guardian for Ewell Surrey 1 The Ethical Movement editWith Stanton Coit Leslie Stephen and Corrie Grant 6 Ruth Homan was a founding member of the West London Ethical Society in 1892 7 one of the formative bodies of the Union of Ethical Societies which became Humanists UK 8 The West London Ethical Society part of the early Ethical movement in the UK appealed To those who have no longer a place in established religious organisations but who yet consider that there is as good need as ever for the exposition and inculcation of the meaning and worth of the moral and inward life to provide a centre where those who share that conviction may regularly meet listen to and exchange thoughts on the themes that concern human wellbeing in the widest and highest sense unhampered by tradition and conventions that have spent their force 6 Death editAfter the death of her husband Ruth Homan moved to Tintagel where she built a large house called Fairseat after her childhood home in London 9 Towards the end of her life Ruth Homan lived in Cornwall where she was president of the Tintagel Nursing Association and her local branch of the Women s Institute 10 She also established the village s social hall 10 She died on 6 November 1938 1 and was cremated at Plymouth Crematorium 11 References edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Martin Jane 2004 Homan nee Waterlow Ruth 1850 1938 educationist and women s welfare campaigner Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 53682 Retrieved 5 November 2020 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Women s Library HOMAN Ruth Scrapbooks and albums aim25 com Retrieved 5 November 2020 Dyer Peter 2005 Tintagel a portrait of a parish Cambridge Cambridge Books ISBN 0 9550097 0 7 p 356 Dyer 2005 pp 356 58 Report of the Royal commission on divorce and matrimonial causes Cornell University Library London Pub by H M Stationery off printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode ltd 1912 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link a b Notes Manchester Evening News 7 May 1892 Academy and Literature Robarts University of Toronto London 1881 1902 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Spiller Gustav 1934 The Ethical Movement In Great Britain London Farleigh Press p 67 Dyer 2005 pp 354 56 a b Tintagel Benefactress Cornish Guardian 10 November 1938 Deaths The Times 8 November 1938 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruth Homan amp oldid 1176010344, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
