Janet E. Courtney
Encyclopedia
Janet Elizabeth Courtney (born Barton-on-Humber 27 November 1865; died London 24 September 1954) was a scholar, writer and feminist.
.She was educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
, 1885-1888 and was awarded a first class degree in Philosophy
.
, then worked as a clerk for the Royal Commission on Labour, 1892-94; was the first superintendent of women clerks of the Bank of England
, 1894-1906; Librarian of The Times
Book Club, 1906-1910; and on the editorial staff of the Encyclopædia Britannica
1906-1914 and 1920-22. She was joint-editor for indexing of the 11th and 12th editions and contributed 700 of the shorter biographies for the former and signed articles on women to the latter.
In 1911 she married William Leonard Courtney
, editor of the Fortnightly Review
and chief dramatic critic and literary editor of the Daily Telegraph.
She was adviser on staff welfare to the Ministry of Munitions 1916-1917 and in the latter year was awarded an OBE. She was also a JP
. She was a Board member of the Executive Committee of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
from 1913. Following the death of her husband in 1928 she became acting editor of the Fortnightly Review
from November 1928 to June 1929.
She was the author of a number of books of aspects of feminism as well as several volumes of reminiscences that contain valuable insights into her working life at the Bank of England
, The Times
and the Encyclopædia Britannica
.
As Janet E. Courtney
Early life
She was a daughter of the Revd George Hogarth and a sister of the archaeologist David George HogarthDavid George Hogarth
David George Hogarth was a British archaeologist and scholar associated with T. E. Lawrence and Arthur Evans.-Archaeological career:...
.She was educated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Lady Margaret Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located at the end of Norham Gardens in north Oxford. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £34m....
, 1885-1888 and was awarded a first class degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
.
Professional life
She first had a part-time teaching post at Cheltenham Ladies' CollegeCheltenham Ladies' College
The Cheltenham Ladies' College is an independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.-History:The school was founded in 1853...
, then worked as a clerk for the Royal Commission on Labour, 1892-94; was the first superintendent of women clerks of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, 1894-1906; Librarian of The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
Book Club, 1906-1910; and on the editorial staff of the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
1906-1914 and 1920-22. She was joint-editor for indexing of the 11th and 12th editions and contributed 700 of the shorter biographies for the former and signed articles on women to the latter.
In 1911 she married William Leonard Courtney
William Leonard Courtney
William Leonard Courtney was an English author, born at Poona, India, and educated at Oxford. In 1873 he became headmaster of Somersetshire College, Bath, and in 1894 editor of the Fortnightly Review.-Works:...
, editor of the Fortnightly Review
Fortnightly Review
Fortnightly Review was one of the most important and influential magazines in nineteenth-century England. It was founded in 1865 by Anthony Trollope, Frederic Harrison, Edward Spencer Beesly, and six others with an investment of £9,000; the first edition appeared on 15 May 1865...
and chief dramatic critic and literary editor of the Daily Telegraph.
She was adviser on staff welfare to the Ministry of Munitions 1916-1917 and in the latter year was awarded an OBE. She was also a JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
. She was a Board member of the Executive Committee of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust
Carnegie United Kingdom Trust is a charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom, established by Scottish-born American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie on the model of his U.S. foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York....
from 1913. Following the death of her husband in 1928 she became acting editor of the Fortnightly Review
Fortnightly Review
Fortnightly Review was one of the most important and influential magazines in nineteenth-century England. It was founded in 1865 by Anthony Trollope, Frederic Harrison, Edward Spencer Beesly, and six others with an investment of £9,000; the first edition appeared on 15 May 1865...
from November 1928 to June 1929.
She was the author of a number of books of aspects of feminism as well as several volumes of reminiscences that contain valuable insights into her working life at the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
and the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
.
Written works
As Janet Hogarth- The Modern French Drama. Seven essays ... 1898, Translated by J. E. Hogarth.
- The Woman's Library 1903 In Vol. 1. "Education and professions: The higher education of women"
As Janet E. Courtney
- Pillars of Empire (with W. L. Courtney), 1918
- Freethinkers of the nineteenth century, 1920
- The making of an editor, 1930 (A biography of her husband)
- Recollected in Tranquility, 1930
- An Oxford Portrait Gallery, 1931
- Countrywomen in Council, 1933 ( A study of the Women's Institutes)
- The Adventurous Thirties, 1933 (Prominent women of the 1830s)
- The Women of my Time, 1934
- Simple Annals, 1936