Dossier f67 - Murray, Mary Alice

File consists of a recording of Mary Alice Murray. Topics of the conversation include hardworking poverty of students enrolled at Queen's to upgrade teaching certificates; 'big effort' of Dept. of Extension students (female teachers and male ministers) to obtain degrees. Procedure of two women from Gr. 13 class, Notre Dame convent, to university (poverty of many, lack of familial support); own notion, derived from instructress, of higher education as responsibility (noblesse oblige). University as road for women to teaching or librarianship only; selection of courses on grounds of pleasure, ability. Value of Latin as mental discipline, foundation of literacy; resurgence in school curricula. Eventual marriage of 90% of female university contemporaries (often to university acquaintances); single status as a woman's 'last choice'. Women's lack of financial motive in attending university, enjoyment of study for its own sake, unselfish ambition, freedom from craving for success. Employment in government income tax office, 1941-57, while living with parents. Deaths of parents; enrolment in Queen's newly-opened law school (surprised by its existence); small number of women law students (12/100 at bar admission, Toronto, 1961); rare status as mature student taking second degree. Positive, sceptical response of several friends, sympathy of income tax boss, 'he approved of all these efforts and went to bat for me.' Bored reaction to income tax work, 'still searching for something'; extensive outside reading. Loss of old friends by the wayside (to marriage etc.), continual necessity of making new ones; early education in independence as only child; affectionate attachment to live-in uncle, distress during law school over his death. Position as sole female graduate of first class of Queen's law school; friendly diversity of class members, parties at subject's home. Generalist nature of Queen's law programme, inability then to specialize. Revulsion against prospect of teaching law; appointment as Secretary, Queen's Faculty of Law; halt to degree at LLB stage. Small registration (85 students, 8 faculty); truth of Dr. Lederman's prophecy subject's job would be an evolving one; enjoyment, satisfaction, of registrarial career. Dedication of Dr. Lederman to Faculty of Law, extensive public relations efforts.// Setting of academic tone of Queen's Faculty of Law by Drs. Corry, Lederman. Importance in life of 'a certain turning outwards', concern for other people; narcissism as self-destruction. Single status as a helpful factor in unstinting professional service; married women's conflicts of interest, strong sense of duty to family, home; dependence of men's success in careers on singleminded freedom from necessity to look after themselves. Levelling off in law school applications, possibility of having reached demand limits for Ontario lawyers. Longlived university attitude to women as mere sexual items, jocular leering over women's applica tions, essays at wit 'We realise you came here for your MRS’; lack of motivation to encourage women to apply. Careful thought given to subject's initial title, 'Secretary of the Law School' (equivalent to current 'Assistant Dean'). Valued personal contact with students as law school Registrar. Value of university where women hold key visible positions, hope that such positions do not 'gravitate back' into hands of men. Inspirational character of Registrar Jean Royce; Royce's invaluable service to faculty and students. Importance of meeting both pure academic and applied career needs of students; value of pure academic liberty to roam through course offerings, sampling disciplines which one may not pursue but which are nonetheless stimulating. Middle-aged woman's fascination with new courses available thirty years after her original studies. Ban Righ Foundation for Continuing University Education (support body for mature female students); warm reception of mature students by Queen's student body; valuable contribution of mature students to university life. Queen's policy of attracting students from across Canada: value in dispelling likeminded sterility, providing graduates with nation-wide network of contacts. Dramatic increase in number of Kingston law firms willing to accept women articling students; lawyers' delight in 'superb' women lawyers. judges' increased acceptance of women lawyers. Logical reasoning as the preserve of female as well as male human beings; irritating expression, 'She thinks like a man.' Disadvantaged position of business women; Sam Zion's Toronto Star advice column; Things My Mother Never Taught Me. Re-education of public tendency to assume any unspecified professional must be a man; continuing small-scale insults to women (e.g. by radio­ broadcasters). Appreciation of women's movement protests (even when strident, objectionable) as sole means of forcing men's attention to problem of unequal status of women.