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Rackstraw, Marjorie, 1888-1981 (educationalist and social worker)

 Person

Staff Only

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 28 Collections and/or Records:

Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-705/1/1/10
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1924-1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Papers related to Masson Hall / Photographs

Group photo; most likely residents of Masson Hall, 1924-1937

 Item
Identifier: Coll-705/1/1/11
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1924-1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Papers related to Masson Hall / Photographs

January Letters, 5 January 1922-31 January 1922

 File
Identifier: 705/5/2/4
Scope and Contents In this file are letters from Tarkolka, Alexievka, and Loevka. She describes how and where they travel by sleigh, in anticipation for a conference in Buzuluk that will decide the policy strategy for the next few months. She finally makes it, and writes that that in 2 of the villages (volosts) she will be able to feed all the children who are not already fed by the Soviet authorities, as well as a fair number of adults. ...
Dates: 5 January 1922-31 January 1922
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Correspondence / Letters Marjorie Rackstraw wrote to family members, while in Russia

Letter from Marjorie Rackstraw, 10 Feb 1955

 Item
Identifier: Coll-1310/1/1/26/9
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 10 Feb 1955
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Godfrey H. Thomson / Biographical and personal papers / Correspondence / Letters of condolence to Lady Thomson

Letters of condolence to Hector following Thomson's death, January - February 1955

 File
Identifier: Coll-1310/1/1/27/1
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: January - February 1955
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Godfrey H. Thomson / Biographical and personal papers / Correspondence / Hector Thomson's correspondence titled Father

March Letters, 10 March 1922-26 March 1922

 File
Identifier: Coll-705/5/2/6
Scope and Contents This file contains letters sent from Buzuluk, and Alexievka. This month she describes a blockage of supplies due to trains being held up by rivers flooding key track lines. There is a great fear that they won't get food until the thaw, which is saved towards the end of the month by a great cold snap! Previously they experienced a great drop in the death rate, and people have been hopeful, perhaps a turn for the best. This month contains only three letters, which MR explains is due to the...
Dates: 10 March 1922-26 March 1922
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Correspondence / Letters Marjorie Rackstraw wrote to family members, while in Russia

Masson Hall Group Photos, 1924-1937

 File
Identifier: Coll-705/6/5
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1924-1937
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Photographs

Mostly photographs related to 1 Keats Grove, Hampstead N.W. 3, 16 March 1961, 1937-1981, 1945-1949

 File
Identifier: Coll-705/6/8
Scope and Contents Documents in this file include (1) a Christmas card, the design of which is a watercolor illustration of the back of 1 Keats Grove, the house which Marjorie Rackstraw bought in 1937. Inside this card was the (2) illustration titled "Different Ways of Celebrating Peace". The original envelope read "Did Barnie do these? I imagine so, if so Sarah might like them. Back of M Rackstraw's house, 1 Keats Grove, Hampstead, London." (3) 4 photos depicting her and three guests in the house. The...
Dates: 16 March 1961; 1937-1981; 1945-1949
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Photographs

November Letters, 4 November 1921-28 November 1921

 File
Identifier: Coll-705/5/2/2
Scope and Contents This file contains letters Marjorie Rackstraw sent during November of 1922. Letters are from Moscow, (also written Mokba, the Russian pronunciation for Moscow), and she describes the activities of her days: going to the ballet at the Opera House by night, and distributing milk to nurseries by day. She writes of distributing cocoa, tinned condensed milk, and soap. Those of a higher pay grade like chauffeurs and interpretors on her team receive a weekly ration of fat, sugar, beans or rice,...
Dates: 4 November 1921-28 November 1921
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Correspondence / Letters Marjorie Rackstraw wrote to family members, while in Russia

October Letters, 12 October 1921-31 October 1921

 File
Identifier: Coll-705/5/2/1
Scope and Contents This pack of letters describes Marjorie Rackstraw's first month in Russia, several from the Norwegian Steamship named the Cygnus, then from Reval, Estonia,and the last two from Moscow. She describes the trip, how her passport was checked by police in Estonia, and the other travelers she meets on the ship and on subsequent trains. In her final letter, she describes in detail the food shortages in Moscow. "Bread is weighed out with the very greatest care and every little broken pieces i picked...
Dates: 12 October 1921-31 October 1921
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Marjorie Rackstraw / Correspondence / Letters Marjorie Rackstraw wrote to family members, while in Russia

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