Annie Rogers

Annie Mary Anne Henley Rogers (15 February 1856 – 28 October 1937) She proved that she was capable of achieving first-class Oxford University degrees but could not receive a formal degree until 1920. Her work as a home tutor for women students led to her being recognised as a founder of St Anne's College, Oxford. She wrote a history of the admission of women to Oxford University and its degrees, which was published posthumously.

Life

Rogers was born in Oxford to James Edwin Thorold Rogers and his second wife, Ann Susannah Charlotte . Her father was a campaigner for women's rights and later a Liberal MP. She was the eldest of six children and the only girl. Both her parents supported her academic interests, and it is likely that she was taught ancient languages by her father. They were also personally close; Rogers lived with her mother in a house in St Giles until her mother's death in 1899, when she moved to Museum Road. Carroll took pictures of her in costume and wrote a poem which he sent with a photograph. The poem read A picture, which I hope will B one that you will like to C. If your Mamma should D sire one like it, I could E sily get her one. Rogers came top in the Oxford school examinations in 1873 and was automatically qualified for an exhibition at Balliol or Worcester College. The offer of a university place was withdrawn when it was realised that she was female. As a consolation prize Balliol gave her volumes of Homer and her place was given to the boy who had come sixth in the tests. in 1877 and 1879, giving her the equivalent of first-class marks in Latin and Greek and in Ancient History respectively. She was not formally awarded an Oxford degree until 1920 when women became eligible for admission as full members of the university and were given the right to take degrees. In 1879, with the opening of Somerville College and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University opened its first halls for women students and Rogers, as the only woman with the equivalent of an Oxford University degree became a don (lecturer). In 1881 she became a Senior Tutor in Classics. During the controversy in 1896 over whether women should be awarded degrees at Oxford, she was one of the first women to give evidence before the Hebdomadal Council on whether their exclusion from degrees had limited women's prospects in tuition. Rogers remained a tutor at St Hugh's until 1921, when she resigned this position. She was a talented tutor to the women who were studying Classics at home and she is acknowledged as one of the founders of St Anne's College. A blue plaque was erected in her memory at her home at 35 St Giles' on 23 September 2020.

Her book Degrees by Degrees was published in 1938; it is subtitled "The Story of the Admission of Oxford Women Students to Membership of the University".