Margaret Eleanor Theodora Addison fonds

Administrative History

Margaret Eleanor Theodora Addison was born in 1868 in Horning's Mills, Ontario. She graduated from Victoria College in 1889 with a B.A. and was awarded the silver medal and 1st class honours in Modern Languages. After graduation, she taught in high schools and at the Ontario Ladies' College in Whitby. In 1900 she travelled to Europe to study educational methods and was inspired by women's higher education there, particularly with the sense of college life that women students had; made possible through ensuring that they had space on campuses, something that Victoria College had lacked when Addison had attended. Back in Toronto, one of her goals to make a residence for women at Victoria had become a reality. Annesley Hall, the first women's residence was opening in 1903 and Addison had been asked by Mrs. Burwash, the President of the Victoria Women's Residence and Educational Association (later the V.W.A), to serve as Dean of Annesley Hall. In 1920, she was appointed as and Dean of Women at Victoria University, to reflect that not all women lived on campus. She served in this role until 1931 when she retired. Addison was also involved with the International Y.W.C.A., the Student Christian Movement, and the University Club. Margaret Addison died in 1940.