Ursula McConnel

Ursula Hope McConnel (1888–1957) was a Queensland anthropologist and ethnographer best remembered for her work with, and the records she made of, the Wik Mungkan people of Cape York Peninsula.

First trained at University College London, then supervised by Professor Alfred Radcliffe-Brown in the Department of Anthropology, University of Sydney, McConnel was one of the first women to be trained in anthropology and then go out to observe Aboriginal Australians in remote areas, systematically documenting, recording, and describing their culture, mythology, beliefs, and way of life.

Early life Born on a grazing property called "Cressbrook" (near Toogoolawah, Queensland), Ursula McConnel was the eighth child (fifth daughter) of grazier James Henry McConnel and his wife, Mary Elizabeth McConnel (née Kent).

"Striking in looks, brilliant in intellectual gifts, she passed through Brisbane High School for Girls and New England Girls' School at Armidale, garlanded with prizes, before taking first-class honours in philosophy at the University of Queensland

Ursula McConnell has been described as a brave, free-thinking, open questing woman with sometimes strong emotions, growing up at a time when the first wave of feminism n Australia was coming of age: " .. a perfect test case for the various ideas of self-creation .." in 1936 promoted her research, and her concern over the treatment by government and missions of aboriginal people, to the general public.

She attempted to obtain a doctorate in anthropology from University College, London, by submitting her publications, but, in the end, never obtained that doctorate, though still laying a significant foundation for present day anthropological research amongst the Aboriginal peoples of the region. Courier Mail (11 September 1933) "Studies Among Natives -Miss Ursula McConnel's Work" Accessed 30 April 2010 Courier Mail (30 September 1933) "Social Life Study: Miss Ursula McConnell's Address" Accessed 30 April 2010 Courier Mail (22 December 1933) "In Town and Out: Miss Ursula McConnel a noted anthropologist .. is one of a small group of Australian anthropologists who are doing hard field work among the natives Accessed 30 April 2010 Sydney Morning Herald (8 March 1934) "Science: Adventures in Anthropology by Ursula McConnell Accessed 30 April 2010