Rackstraw, Marjorie, 1888-1981 (educationalist and social worker)
Dates
- Existence: 1888 - 1981
Biography
Marjorie Rackstraw was born 24 June 1888. She studied at the University of Birmingham and was a Postgraduate Scholar at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, USA. In 1913 she became Bursar at University House, Birmingham, and from 1915 until 1917 did relief and reconstruction work in France. From 1917 until 1921, Rackstraw was warden of the Students Hall of Residence, Moray House, Edinburgh, and then in 1921 did relief work in the Soviet Union until 1923. In 1924 she worked at the Headquarters of the League of Nations, and from 1924 until 1937 was Warden of Masson Hall, Edinburgh University. During this time too she was Adviser of Women Students, Edinburgh University. From 1937, Rackstraw was in London doing social work and in 1939 was involved in the evacuation of day nurseries and nursery schools for London City Council (LCC). In 1940 she did relief work for refugees in France until the fall of France in June 1940. She then did emergency war work, and in 1944 joined the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Germany. There she worked with refugees, community feeding, and the welfare of old people, including the setting up of hostels. In 1945, Rackstraw was elected Labour Councillor for Hampstead and from 1945 until her death she set up and worked with the Hampstead Old peoples' Housing Trust. Rackstraw was Chair of the Hampstead Committee of the Lord Mayor's National Air Raid Distress Fund, Chair of the Standing Committee on Communal Feeding, Governor of St. Olave's and St. Saviour's School, and Honorary President of Niddrie School Association. She was awarded the OBE in the New Years Honours List, 1960. Marjorie Rackstraw OBE died on 28 April 1981.
Found in 16 Collections and/or Records:
Group Photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937
Group of student-aged women, in four rows with the bottom row sitting on two rugs. The picture is taken outside, against a stone wall with windows, and Marjorie Rackstraw is seated in the middle of the second row, with a headband across her forehead.
Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937
This photo depicts 5 rows of student-aged women, the bottom row seated on two rugs. The photo was taken outside, with a stone wall of a building behind them. Marjorie Rackstraw is seated in the middle of the second row, holding a young boy.
Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937
Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937
This photo depicts four rows of student aged women, outside on a bright day, with the stone wall of a building behind them. Marjorie Rackstraw is seated in the center of the second row.
Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937
This photo depicts four rows of student-aged women in front of the stone wall of a building. Majorie Rackstraw is seated in the middle of the second row.
Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937
Four rows of student-aged women are depicted in front of a stone wall of a building. Marjorie Rackstraw is seated in the center of the second row.
Letter from Marjorie Rackstraw, 10 Feb 1955
Rackstraw recalls the times she has spent with the family in Glenapp and their home in Edinburgh. She thanks Lady Thomson for making her a part of their lives. She describes the partnership between Thomson and Lady Thomson, and expresses her thankfulness for having known both of them.
Includes Lady Thomson's annotations, which briefly allude to Rackstraw's voluntary work in Hampstead.
Letters of condolence to Hector following Thomson's death, January - February 1955
Contains letter to Hector from Sir James Duff following Hector informing him of Thomson's illness; Janet Todd, a former colleague of Hector Thomson's; Marjorie Rackstraw; and W Wittie, Hector Thomson's colleague, who recalls Thomson's kindness early on in his career.
Masson Hall Group Photos, 1924-1937
These three photos are group photos of most likely Masson Hall residents, between the years 1924-1937. Marjorie Rackstraw is seated in the middle of the second row, and Masson Hall is most likely the building behind them.
Mostly photographs related to 1 Keats Grove, Hampstead N.W. 3, 16 March 1961, 1937-1981, 1945-1949
Additional filters:
- Type
- Archival Object 15
- Collection 1
- Subject
- Photographs 13
- Photographs -- Student Groups 7
- Women students 6
- London (England) 2
- Awards 1