Edith Amelia Kerr (June 6, 1893 – April 2, 1975) was an Australian teacher, headmistress and Presbyterian missionary.
Edith Amelia Kerr | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 June 1893 |
| Died | 2 April 1975 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Early and family life edit
Edith Amelia Kerr was born at Patyah near Edenhope, Victoria. She was the ninth of ten children born to Mary Taylor (née Gardiner) and her husband James Kerr.[1]
Kerr trained as a teacher at the Melbourne Continuation School.[1] In 1910, she passed the Public Service examinations at the University of Melbourne.[2]
Kerr decided to become a missionary after the death of her fiancé in World War I.[1] In 1920, she attended the Deaconess and Missionary Training Institute.[3] In 1946, Kerr graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Melbourne College of Divinity.[4][5]
Career edit
Between 1921 and 1941, Kerr served as a missionary in Korea. She returned home after the Japanese occupation.[6] During this time, Kerr was principal of the Tonyung Industrial School and founded a farm school for homeless women.[7]
The Argus newspaper reported that Kerr would probably be the first woman ordained into the Presbyterian Church.[8] However the acceptance of her candidature was the cause of contention and appeals within the presbyterian assembly.[9] In 1946, during an address to the Presbyterian Women's Missionary Union, she said that "the majority of progressive men in the church were solidly behind the move" to ordain women.[10]
Kerr was a teacher at Methodist Ladies College and Presbyterian Ladies' College.[10]
Publications edit
In 1949, Kerr published a book titled The Historic Place of Women in the Church.[11]
References edit
- ^ a b c Porter, Muriel, "Kerr, Edith Amelia (1893–1975)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 13 March 2021
- ^ "UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE". Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 8 January 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Melbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "Deaconess Training Institute - Organisation - The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "DIVINITY DEGREES CONFERRED". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 20 June 1946. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "UNIVERSITY REVELS REACH CLIMAX [?]". Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954). 8 April 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Trove". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "What Women are Doing". Australian Women's Weekly (1933 - 1982). 25 March 1939. p. 45. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "THE LIFE OF MELBOURNE". Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 21 September 1945. p. 8. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "WOMAN PROPOSED FOR MINISTRY". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 8 May 1946. p. 9. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ a b "Women in the Ministry". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954). 4 December 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ "The historic place of women in the church". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.