Margery Fry
Encyclopedia
Margery Fry was a British
prison reformer as well as one of the first women to become a magistrate
.
Margery Fry was born in London
, the eighth child of Sir Edward Fry
and his wife, Mariabella Hodgkin (1833–1930), who were Quakers. She was educated at home until, at the age of 17, she went to Miss Lawrence's school at Brighton
(later named Roedean School
). Her parents did not intend her to go to university but eventually allowed her to go to Somerville College
at Oxford
in 1894 to read Mathematics. (Her brother, the artist Roger Fry
, apparently wanted her to do painting instead). After three years at university she returned to her parents' home, staying with them until 1899 when she became Librarian at Somerville (1899–1904). In 1904, she became Warden of the new women's residence at Birmingham University (initially at an annual salary of £60). In 1913, she became financially independent after the death of her uncle Joseph Storrs Fry
and in 1914 left her position at Birmingham. From 1915 onwards, she helped organize Quaker relief efforts in the Marne war area, and later elsewhere in France.
After the First World War, she lived with her brother Roger and began the work on prison reform in which she was to be involved until the end of her life. In 1918, she became secretary of the Penal Reform League, which merged with the Howard Association in 1921 to form the Howard League for Penal Reform
; she was secretary of the combined organisation until 1926. In 1919 she was appointed to the newly founded University Grants Committee
on which she served until 1948. In 1921 she was appointed a magistrate
, one of the first women magistrates in Britain. In 1922 she was appointed education advisor to Holloway Prison (a prison for women in London).
From 1926 to 1930, she was Principal of Somerville College. She was also a governor of the BBC
from 1937 to 1939 and a participant in The Brains Trust
series starting in 1942. The Graduate (Middle Common Room, or MCR) accommodation building at Somerville College is called Margery Fry House in her honour.
She is also known for her opposition to the death penalty and her support of compensation for victims of crimes.
Margery Fry who was Director of the Howard League for Penal Reform
from its foundation in 1921 until 1926. She also served as Chair of the league's Council from 1926 to 1929.
In 1990, the Margery Fry Award was established in her honour.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
prison reformer as well as one of the first women to become a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
.
Margery Fry was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the eighth child of Sir Edward Fry
Edward Fry
Sir Edward Fry GCB, GCMG, PC, FRS , was a judge in the British Court of Appeal and also an arbitrator on the International Permanent Court of Arbitration. He was a Quaker, son of Joseph Fry and Mary Ann Swaine....
and his wife, Mariabella Hodgkin (1833–1930), who were Quakers. She was educated at home until, at the age of 17, she went to Miss Lawrence's school at Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
(later named Roedean School
Roedean School
-Roedeanians in fiction:* Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward * Dawn Drummond-Clayton * Emily James...
). Her parents did not intend her to go to university but eventually allowed her to go to Somerville College
Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, and was one of the first women's colleges to be founded there...
at Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1894 to read Mathematics. (Her brother, the artist Roger Fry
Roger Fry
Roger Eliot Fry was an English artist and art critic, and a member of the Bloomsbury Group. Establishing his reputation as a scholar of the Old Masters, he became an advocate of more recent developments in French painting, to which he gave the name Post-Impressionism...
, apparently wanted her to do painting instead). After three years at university she returned to her parents' home, staying with them until 1899 when she became Librarian at Somerville (1899–1904). In 1904, she became Warden of the new women's residence at Birmingham University (initially at an annual salary of £60). In 1913, she became financially independent after the death of her uncle Joseph Storrs Fry
Joseph Storrs Fry II
Joseph Storrs Fry was a member of the Bristol Fry family, head of the family chocolate firm of J. S. Fry & Sons and a philanthropist....
and in 1914 left her position at Birmingham. From 1915 onwards, she helped organize Quaker relief efforts in the Marne war area, and later elsewhere in France.
After the First World War, she lived with her brother Roger and began the work on prison reform in which she was to be involved until the end of her life. In 1918, she became secretary of the Penal Reform League, which merged with the Howard Association in 1921 to form the Howard League for Penal Reform
Howard League for Penal Reform
The Howard League for Penal Reform is a London-based registered charity in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest penal reform organisation in the world, named after John Howard. Founded in 1866 as the Howard Association, a merger with the Penal Reform League in 1921 created the Howard League for...
; she was secretary of the combined organisation until 1926. In 1919 she was appointed to the newly founded University Grants Committee
University Grants Committee (UK)
The University Grants Committee was an advisory committee of the British government, which advised on the distribution of grant funding amongst the British universities. It was in existence from 1919 until 1989...
on which she served until 1948. In 1921 she was appointed a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
, one of the first women magistrates in Britain. In 1922 she was appointed education advisor to Holloway Prison (a prison for women in London).
From 1926 to 1930, she was Principal of Somerville College. She was also a governor of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
from 1937 to 1939 and a participant in The Brains Trust
The Brains Trust
The Brains Trust was a popular informational BBC radio and later television programme in the United Kingdom during the 1940s and 50s.- History :...
series starting in 1942. The Graduate (Middle Common Room, or MCR) accommodation building at Somerville College is called Margery Fry House in her honour.
She is also known for her opposition to the death penalty and her support of compensation for victims of crimes.
Margery Fry who was Director of the Howard League for Penal Reform
Howard League for Penal Reform
The Howard League for Penal Reform is a London-based registered charity in the United Kingdom. It is the oldest penal reform organisation in the world, named after John Howard. Founded in 1866 as the Howard Association, a merger with the Penal Reform League in 1921 created the Howard League for...
from its foundation in 1921 until 1926. She also served as Chair of the league's Council from 1926 to 1929.
In 1990, the Margery Fry Award was established in her honour.
External links
- Margery Fry, 1874–1958: a lecture given on Friday July 5th, 1974, at the University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
to celebratethe centenary of the birth of Margery Fry, by Janet Vaughan. Published in 1974, Margery Fry Memorial Trust (Birmingham).