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a'Beckett, Ada Mary (1872-1948)

Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-720068

Biographies

Australian Women's Register

Teacher, kindergarten activist, and philanthropist, Ada Mary a'Beckett was born in Adelaide in 1872. Throughout her career she worked as a demonstrator and lecturer in biology at the University of Melbourne as well as teaching at various schools throughout Victoria. She was very closely involved in the kindergarten movement, helping to establish the Kindergarten Training College in Kew. Ada was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 3 June 1935, and had a kindergarten named after her the following year. She died in 1948 in Melbourne.

Ada Mary a'Beckett was born in Norwood, Adelaide on 18 May 1872. She was educated at the Advanced School for Girls in Adelaide.

Between 1893 and 1900 Ada worked as a teacher at several different girls schools in the Melbourne and Geelong area as well as at the Working Men's College. During part of this time she was also a student at the University of Melbourne, where she was awarded the Wyselaskie scholarship in natural science (biology) and the final honours scholarship in biology. She was Annie Grice Scholar in 1892-1893 and a founder of the Victorian Women Graduates' Association. She graduated with a BSc (1895) and a MSc (1897).

Ada maintained strong ties with Melbourne University throughout her life, working there for varying periods as a demonstrator and lecturer in biology - especially during World War I. From 1912 until 1920 she also worked as teacher at the Church of England Girls' Grammar School in Melbourne. In 1921 Ada was appointed head of the biology department at Scotch College, a position she held until 1937. She had a significant impact on her students, many of whom entered medicine or allied professions.

Ada's involvement in the kindergarten movement began in 1908 when she was elected a foundation president of the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria. In 1916 Ada helped establish the Kindergarten Training College in Kew. Between 1920 and 1923 she helped develop the training course there for kindergarten teachers and lectured in physiology and hygiene. Ada was also the resident of the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria from 1919 to 1939; and the president of the Kindergarten Training Council from 1926 to 1939. In 1936 she founded the Australian Association for Pre-School Child Development.

In 1935 Ada was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her philanthropic work and in 1942 had a kindergarten at Fisherman's Bend named after her. She died of cancer in Melbourne in 1948.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

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Resources

Selected resources (15)

Australian Women's Register

  1. [Ada A'Beckett]
    [1948]
  2. [Ada A'Beckett]
    [1927]
  3. A historical sketch: The growth and development of the Free Kindergarten Movement of Victoria
    a'Beckett, Ada Mary
    [1939]
    Published: Hart Printing Co., Melbourne
  4. à Beckett, Ada Mary (1872-1948)
    Marginson, Julie
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  5. A'Beckett, Ada Mary (nee Lambert) (1872 - 1948), Biographical Entry
    [2002]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
  6. Obituary: Ada A'Beckett
    [1948]
  7. A'Beckett, Ada Mary (nee Lambert) (1872 - 1948), Biographical Entry
    [2001]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
  8. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
  9. Where are the Women in Australian science?
    Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
  10. A'Beckett, Ada Mary (nee Lambert) (1872 - 1948), Biographical Entry
    [2001]
    Published: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
  11. Degrees of liberation : a short history of women in the University of Melbourne
    Kelly, Farley
    [1985]
    Published: Women Graduates Centenary Committee, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic.
  12. Monash Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Australia
    Arnold, John and Morris, Deirdre
    [1994]
    Published: Reed Reference Publishing, Port Melbourne (Vic.)
  13. Mrs T.A. a' Beckett, CBE, MSC
    [Artwork ]
    Portrait by Charles Wheeler, oil on canvas, not dated. BRASS PLAQUE ON FRAME; BOT.C. "MRS. T.A. A' BECKETT, CBE, M.Sc. President Free Kindergarten. Union of Victoria. 1920-1939. Presented by the committee of The Ada Mary a' Beckett Free Kindergarten 20th March 1948."
    The Ian Potter Museum of Art
    1948.0024
  14. University of Melbourne Central Administration - Registrar's Correspondence
    [1872 - 1948]
    Registrar's correspondence and other official university records c1890-1903. According to Ada Mary a'Beckett's entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography information relating to her can be found in these records.
    The University of Melbourne Archives
    84/9
  15. Institute of early childhood development
    [1887 - 1979]
    Glass photographic negatives of teachng aids, toys, crafts etc. at Errol Street School (one item October 1914); various photographs of children in kindgartens, with one of the Lady Gowrie Centre, Carlton, 1940, the Forest Hills Holiday Home 1937, and a children' miniature theatre, 1887; photographic slides of "Mooroolbeek" and the Abbotsford Convent site; film ‹End of the Beginning", 1979 and audio tapes of graduations etc., photographs of students 1930's-1970's; 78 rpm records of student recruiting talks; published reports; etc.
    8 cartons
    The University of Melbourne, Baillieu Library Special Collections
    96/88

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  1. Website: Bright sparcs
    www.asap.unimelb.edu.au
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  2. Website: Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre
    www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au
    Matching pages:
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  3. Website: Australian Women in War
    www.womenaustralia.info
    Matching pages:
    View 28 matching archived pages

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