Papers of Mary Thomson, 1884-1966, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland

• School and teacher training records, 1897-1906;
• University records, 1909-1914;
• War service papers, 1918-1949;
• Curriculum vitae and references, 1909-c1942;
• Letters of condolence, 1966.

Mary Thomson was born on 26 May 1884  . Her father, James, was a draper. She attended Kent Road Public School, Glasgow, Scotland and trained as a pupil-teacher there from 1902-1904  , achieving a 1st class pass in her Pupil-Teacher's Institute examinations a year later. She continued her teacher training at the Glasgow Church of Scotland Teacher's Training College, qualifying as a teacher in drawing, singing, needlework and German in 1906.

As part of her course she enrolled in a Latin and Logic course at the University of Glasgow in session 1905-1906  . After qualifying as a teacher Mary returned to Glasgow University in 1906  to continue her studies and graduated with a MA Honours (1st class) in French and German literature and language studies in November 1911  . As the first in order of merit in the examination she was awarded the Mackinnon Scholarship in Modern Languages. During her time at university, Mary also taught French at continuation classes, 1907-1908  and the Tutorial Institute 1909-1910  and was an assistant mistress in modern languages at the Glasgow High School for Girls from 1910-1918  . She spent six months studying in Wernigerode, Germany in 1907  , in Bordeaux and Pyrenees in 1909  , Paris in 1910  and St Malo in 1911  . In July 1914  she went to classes at Greifswald University, Germany , but had to return to Glasgow following the outbreak of war. She carried out voluntary war work in 1915-1917  and then did official war work as a household administrator at Aldershot for the WAAC from 1918-1919  . After the war, she was temporary head teacher of modern languages at Pitlochry Higher Grade School in April and June 1920  , and then taught at Glasgow High School.

In 1921  she married Major Francis C H Mackenzie, Agent of the Union Bank of Scotland, Morningside, Edinburgh . She returned to teaching in 1941  , retiring in 1949  . She died suddenly in March 1966  .

The arrangement of this material reflects the original order in which it was received.

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Gift : Mary E MacKenzie, daughter of Mary Thomson : 2003 and 2004 : ACCN 2384

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Description compiled in line with the following international standards: International Council on Archives,ISAD(G) Second Edition, September 1999 and National Council on Archives,Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names

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Fonds level description compiled by Caroline Torres, volunteer, 17 June 2004. Lower level descriptions compiled by members of Glasgow University Archive Services staff. Finding aid created by Andrew Thomson, Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing), 03 August 2005. Revisions by Vikki Laidlaw, Assistant Archivist (Cataloguing) 13 February 2007. Catalogue edited by Michelle Kaye, Archives Assistant, 25 September, 2012.