Jane Foss Russell

This item is part of the HerStory Hike with the Archives, a history walk around the Camperdown and Darlington campuses of the University.

A Lady To Take Charge

On 2 March 1881, the Senate recorded that, "The question of admitting women to the University, brought forward by the Chancellor was discussed at length & the Chancellor gave notice of the following motion for the next monthly meeting "That hence forward women be admitted to matriculation and to the Lectures of the University and yearly Examinations & Examinations for degrees". [Ref 1].

As proposed, on 8 April 1881, a signed memorandum was included in the minutes of the Senate that was, "…read by the Chancellor in support of his motion for the admission of women to University privileges…It appears to me very desirable that steps should be taken by the Senate without further delay for the extension to women of the advantages of high education under the auspices of the University. The following occur to me as the more prominent reasons for this course…1. In a political sense, both sexes have an equal right to participate in these advantages, seeing that this University has been founded for the general benefit of the Public, and is maintained at the general public cost…2. I apprehend that there is nothing in the statutes of this University which is opposed to this equality in favour of women…3. Socially, I see no reason why such women as may be ambitious of and competent to attain the higher education of the University, and desirous of receiving its distinctions, should not be admitted to full participation in the advantages it offers; save only that there may be a necessity for some differences of study, both on account of the greater delicacy of the sex, and of considerations of greater appropriations of the course of life open to women…4. The tendency of modern opinions on this question, and the example set by other Universities both at home and in some British Colonies, appear to render it almost imperative that we should open our own University to women equally with men". [Ref 2].

Mary Elizabeth Brown and Isola Florence Thompson swiftly took up the opportunity, and as the first two female students enrolled at the University, became one of the fifty-two, "Students Who Are Passing Through Their First Year" in 1882. [Ref 3].

Jane Foss Russell was part of the second cohort of female students at the University, having first won a Fairfax Prize (Junior) in 1878 [Ref 4] and then a Fairfax Prize (Senior) in 1881 [Ref 5] before passing the Matriculation Examination [Ref 6] and enrolling at the University in 1883 to study Arts [Ref 7]. Russell clearly hit the ground running, earning an Honours (Class I) in Chemistry and Experimental Physics, an Honours (Class I) in Classics, and an Honours (Class II) in Mathematics, all in her first year in 1884. [Ref 8]. This trend continues in 1885 [Ref 9], culminating in a Bachelor of Arts in 1886 [Ref 10] with Honours (Class I) from the School of Classics [Ref 11] and Honours (Class II) from the School of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy [Ref 12]. It is particularly poignant that Russell’s father Henry Chamberlain Russell was one of the Fellows of the Senate present at both meetings when the Chancellor proposed and the Senate approved the admission of women to the University. [Ref 13] [Ref 14].

Following in the footsteps of one of the first female graduates of the University, like Thompson [Ref 15], Russell, on 13 April 1889, was awarded a Master of Arts from the School of Logic, Moral, Mental, and Political Philosophy [Ref 16].

On 18 August 1890, it was first resolved by the Senate, "That a lady be appointed to take charge of the 'Womens' Common Room'". [Ref 17]. The 18 July 1892 minutes of the Senate noted that, "…eight (8) applications had been received for the Office of 'Tutor to the Women Students'" and, "...it was resolved that Miss Jane F. Russell, M.A., should be appointed to the office" [Ref 18], thus becoming the second person to hold this position when she filled, "…the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Helen P. Phillips" [Ref 19]. She held this role, which was, "…the only female position on the University’s teaching staff for many decades" [Ref 20], until 5 June 1899, when the Senate heard that, "A letter was received from Miss J. F. Russell, M.A., resigning the office of Tutor to the Women Students from the 31st December, in accordance with the bylaws of the University, but requesting that she might be relieved of her duties as soon as the Senate could conveniently make arrangements for a successor. The resignation was accepted with regret" [Ref 21]. It was likely her marriage to Registrar, Henry Ebenezer Barff [Ref 22] prompted her resignation, however, she remained active within the University community, such as part of the Women’s Association and the Women’s Society [Ref 23].

It is clear that her involvement with the University was maintained until her death as on 7 July 1937, the Registrar wrote to Russell’s sister, "I have been asked by the Fellows of the Senate to extend to you an expression of deep sympathy in the loss sustained by the death of the late Mrs. H. E. Barff. Members of the Senate are not unmindful of the services rendered to the University by Mrs. Barff as Tutor to the women students and as a member of the Council of the Women’s College as well as the helpmeet of my beloved predecessor". Later the same month, Messrs. Colquhuon and King, Solicitors, wrote to the Registrar, "re Estate late Jane Foss Barff…The Will contains the following gift, which is free of Probate and Federal Estate Duties…the Silver Tea and Coffee Service presented to my late husband Henry Ebenezer Barff sometime Warden and Registrar…on the occasion of his completing twenty-five years in the service of the University in the hope that it may be used in remembrance of him by the Chancellor and Deputy Chancellor when entertaining distinguished visitors at the said University". The Registrar promised on 13 August 1937 that the Senate would ensure that, "The terms of the Will will be strictly observed". [Ref 24].

Russell’s husband too had a long-standing connection to the University as his resignation letter, considered by the Senate on 6 November 1922, noted that, "Having attained the age of sixty five years…I deem it my duty to place my resignation in your hands. I first entered the University service as Master of Studies in 1876 and after an interval of eighteen months from the termination of that office became Assistant Lecturer in Mathematics, Acting Registrar in 1880, Registrar in 1882, and Warden and Registrar in 1914. It has been a great joy to me to be so intimately associated with an institution in which all my interest are centred" and was signed off as, "Your obedient servant". The Senate unanimously agreed to implore Barff to withhold his resignation temporarily. [Ref 25].

Russell’s pride in her husband’s commitment to the University is evident in the allowance she made in her will, and he was obviously equally beloved by the University itself, as the Faculty of Arts emotively recorded on 26 March 1924 that, "Members of the Faculty of Arts  feel, perhaps even more than other members of the University the approaching retirement of Mr. Barff, because he has been associated with the Faculty for nearly 50 years…Though to praise him would be impertinent, the Faculty wishes to record its ever-deepening gratitude for his services and to add that it is for ever bound to him in loyal affection through his inspiring example of liberality, truth, justice and courtesy in all relations, official or personal. Its consolation not, as it faces the future without his active co-operation, is that work so great as his, and the influence of character and talent such as his, must continue as forces of health and progress within the University". [Ref 26].

73 years after Russell’s death, the Jane Foss Russell Building (originally known as the Sydney Central Building) was constructed as part of the $250-million Campus 2010 Building Project, "…the largest single capital development program ever undertaken at the University"; representing a one of a kind space that for the first time would house all student services in a single location. [Ref 27].

The decision to name the building after Russell was made on 16 June 2008 by the Senate who acknowledged Russell’s significant, "…lifelong association with and commitment to the University" and to the experience of students, especially female students, thereby appropriately reflecting the student focus of the building. [Ref 28].

Ref 1: Senate Minutes September 1878 to March 1884 (25/09/1878 to 22/03/1884), p. 97, [REF-00002750]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 2: see Ref 1, p. 101.

Ref 3: The Sydney University Calendar 1882-83 (1882 to 1883), pp. 71-72, [REF-00020843]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 4: The Sydney University Calendar 1879-80 (1879 to 1880), p. 126, [REF-00020837]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 5: see Ref 3, p. 98.

Ref 6: The Sydney University Calendar 1883-84 (1883 to 1884), p. 183, [REF-00020845]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 7: see Ref 6, p. 143.

Ref 8: The Sydney University Calendar 1884 (1884), p. 198, [REF-00020847]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 9: The Sydney University Calendar 1885 (1885), p. 205, [REF-00020849]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 10: The Sydney University Calendar 1886 (1886), p. 156, [REF-00020851]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 11: see Ref 10, p. 202.

Ref 12: see Ref 10, p. 204.

Ref 13: see Ref 1, p. 95.

Ref 14: see Ref 1, p. 98.

Ref 15: Isola Florence Thompson - Master of Arts 1887 (1887), [REF-00093500]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 16: Conferring of Degrees/Graduation Ceremony 13 April 1889 (13/04/1889), p. 1, [REF-00077251]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 17: Senate Minutes June 1888 to July 1891 (04/06/1888 to 06/07/1891), p. 276, [REF-00002752]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 18: Senate Minutes July 1891 to August 1893 (20/07/1891 to 07/08/1893), pp. 195-196, [REF-00002753]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 19: Calendar of the University of Sydney 1893 (1893), p. 402, [REF-00020869]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 20: Senate Meeting Papers 16 June 2008 (16/06/2008), p. C2, [REF-00070792]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 21: Senate Minutes December 1898 to July 1904 (05/12/1898 to 08/07/1904), p. 40, [REF-00002755]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 22: Calendar of the University of Sydney 1900 (1900), p. 288, [REF-00020885]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 23: see Ref 22, pp. 377-378.

Ref 24: Estate of Jane Foss Barff Gift Under Will of Silver Tea and Coffee Service Presented to HE Barff (01/07/1937 to 30/08/1937), [REF-00041973]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 25: Senate Minutes February 1921 to October 1923 (07/02/1921 to 25/10/1923), pp. 263-264, [REF-00002759]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 26: Faculty of Arts Minutes, 1912 to 1926 (15/05/1912 to 07/07/1926), p. 293, [REF-00094904]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 27: The University of Sydney UniNews Vol 39 No 12 (31/08/2007), p. 4, [REF-00042426]. University of Sydney Archives.

Ref 28: see Ref 20, pp. C1-C2.