Valentine Leeper
Encyclopedia
Valentine Alexa Leeper (14 February 1900 - 26 July 2001) was an Australian classicist, teacher, polemicist, and letter-writer of renown.
at the University of Melbourne
, daughter of Dr Alexander Leeper
, first Warden of that college, and his second wife, Mary (née Moule). Her half-brothers, Reginald Leeper
and Allen Leeper, both became prominent British diplomats. Her brother, Geoffrey Leeper, became the first professor of agricultural chemistry
at the University of Melbourne.
Valentine was educated at Melbourne Church of England Girls Grammar School and at Trinity College. For many years she worked as secretary and carer to her father, and then as carer for her mother. After both had died, in her middle age, she obtained work as a school teacher.
), Indigenous affairs (including as a long-time member of the Victorian Aboriginal Group), education (including the protection of classical studies), the Church (for example, as an advocate of women's ordination). Her other interests include hockey playing.
In 1944, she published a pamphlet, Piecrust Promises, attacking what she saw as the British betrayal of Poland to the Soviet Union during World War II, which had originally been fought to protect Poland. For many years in the mid-20th century Valentine Leeper appeared on Australian radio as a provider of little-known information and her own clear opinions. A strong defender of her father's memory and opinions, Valentine Leeper provided much information for a biography of him, written by Professor John Poynter, and published in 1997.
In 1998, Valentine Leeper was installed as a Fellow of Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
. She died in 2001. Her ashes were interred in a garden next to the building in which she was born, and in which she had played as a girl.
A 'life with letters' of Valentine Leeper was published in 2008. It was launched by Professor Geoffrey Blainey
, and has been described by women's historian Patricia Grimshaw as "a vivid and compelling portrait of this influential woman", and as being at "the forefront of insightful biography".
Life
Valentine Leeper was born on Valentine's Day 1900 in the Leeper Building of Trinity CollegeTrinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, daughter of Dr Alexander Leeper
Alexander Leeper
Alexander Leeper , was an Australian educationist.Alexander Leeper, the son of the Rev. Alexander Leeper, canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, was born on 3 June 1848. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1871 and M.A...
, first Warden of that college, and his second wife, Mary (née Moule). Her half-brothers, Reginald Leeper
Reginald Leeper
Sir Reginald Wildig Allen Leeper was a British civil servant and diplomat. He was the founder of the British Council....
and Allen Leeper, both became prominent British diplomats. Her brother, Geoffrey Leeper, became the first professor of agricultural chemistry
Agricultural chemistry
Agricultural chemistry is the study of both chemistry and biochemistry which are important in agricultural production, the processing of raw products into foods and beverages, and in environmental monitoring and remediation...
at the University of Melbourne.
Valentine was educated at Melbourne Church of England Girls Grammar School and at Trinity College. For many years she worked as secretary and carer to her father, and then as carer for her mother. After both had died, in her middle age, she obtained work as a school teacher.
Views
Eccentric and conservative in style, but liberal in many of her views, Valentine acquired from her father the spirit of a controversialist, and over many decades she was a frequent writer of letters to newspapers, government ministers, Anglican church leaders, and many others. She was a commentator and activist on international affairs (e.g. as a long-time member of the League of Nations UnionLeague of Nations Union
The League of Nations Union was an organization formed in the United Kingdom to promote international justice, collective security and a permanent peace between nations based upon the ideals of the League of Nations. The League of Nations was established by the Great Powers as part of the Paris...
), Indigenous affairs (including as a long-time member of the Victorian Aboriginal Group), education (including the protection of classical studies), the Church (for example, as an advocate of women's ordination). Her other interests include hockey playing.
In 1944, she published a pamphlet, Piecrust Promises, attacking what she saw as the British betrayal of Poland to the Soviet Union during World War II, which had originally been fought to protect Poland. For many years in the mid-20th century Valentine Leeper appeared on Australian radio as a provider of little-known information and her own clear opinions. A strong defender of her father's memory and opinions, Valentine Leeper provided much information for a biography of him, written by Professor John Poynter, and published in 1997.
In 1998, Valentine Leeper was installed as a Fellow of Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
. She died in 2001. Her ashes were interred in a garden next to the building in which she was born, and in which she had played as a girl.
A 'life with letters' of Valentine Leeper was published in 2008. It was launched by Professor Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Blainey
Geoffrey Norman Blainey AC , is a prominent Australian historian.Blainey was born in Melbourne and raised in a series of Victorian country towns before attending Wesley College and the University of Melbourne. While at university he was editor of Farrago, the newspaper of the University of...
, and has been described by women's historian Patricia Grimshaw as "a vivid and compelling portrait of this influential woman", and as being at "the forefront of insightful biography".
Sources
- Marion Poynter, Nobody's Valentine: Letters in the Life of Valentine Alexa Leeper, 1900-2001, Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, 2008.
- Patricia Grimshaw, "A woman of passionate engagement", TrinityToday, Trinity College (University of Melbourne)Trinity College (University of Melbourne)Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
, December 2008. - Donald MarkwellDonald MarkwellFor the Montgomery, Alabama, talk radio personality, Don Markwell, see Don Markwell Professor Donald John 'Don' Markwell is an Australian social scientist and college president...
, "Valentine Leeper", in A large and liberal education': higher education for the 21st century, Australian Scholarly Publishing & Trinity College, University of Melbourne, 2007. - Donald MarkwellDonald MarkwellFor the Montgomery, Alabama, talk radio personality, Don Markwell, see Don Markwell Professor Donald John 'Don' Markwell is an Australian social scientist and college president...
, "Nobody's Valentine: A Personal Reflection", TrinityToday, Trinity College (University of Melbourne)Trinity College (University of Melbourne)Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
, September 2008. - John Poynter, Doubts and Certainties: A life of Alexander LeeperAlexander LeeperAlexander Leeper , was an Australian educationist.Alexander Leeper, the son of the Rev. Alexander Leeper, canon of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, was born on 3 June 1848. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1871 and M.A...
, Melbourne University Press, 1997.
External links
- Valentine Alexa Leeper archival display, Trinity College, University of Melbourne http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/publications/archive_displays/leeper
- Nobody's Valentine http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au/publications/books