Jane Foss Barff

Jane Foss Barff (née Russell) (24 October 1863 – 10 June 1937) was the second woman to attain a Master of Arts from the University of Sydney. She was a founding member of the Women’s College and a co founding member of the Sydney University Women’s Association.

Early life Jane Foss Barff was born on 24 October 1864 in Sydney, Australia. She was the daughter of Henry Chamberlain Russell, a government astronomer and meteorologist. Three years later she sat for the Senior Public Examination in eight subjects, and passed with first class honours, again sharing the prize for the best female pupil. However, in 1881 when the University of Sydney was open to women she applied to study at the college. Although women were still unable to participate in courses such as medicine because the discussion of the human body was deemed not an appropriate topic.

Education In 1883 she was among the second group of women to enrol at the University of Sydney. Whilst at the college she studied classics, chemistry, physics and mathematics. In her first year she obtained first class honours in classics, chemistry and physics, and second class honours in mathematics. She then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1886, with first class honours in classics and a second class honours in mathematics.

Community work Jane Foss Barff (née Russell)Jane Foss Barff's involvement in the women’s organisations of the University of Sydney was extensive. She was a founding member of the Sydney University Women's Society in 1891 which was established by Helen Phillips. However, she left her estate of £8000 and numerous possessions to her daughter.

Legacies The Jane Foss Russell Building which is at located in the University of Sydney, commemorates the second woman to gain a Masters of Arts at the University. The building was originally named the Sydney Central but was renamed in 2008.

In addition, Jane Foss Barff has had a memorial prize named in her honour. In 1938 the sum of £50 collected by her friends was donated to the Women's College to create a prize in her memory. The memorial prize is awarded to the student of the College who, in their first or second year, scores highest in the subject of classics.