Isaacs, Susan Sutherland Fairhurst, 1885-1948

Susan Isaacs (1885-1948) née Fairhurst, trained as a teacher and gained a degree in philosophy from Manchester University in 1912. Following a period as a research student at the Psychological Laboratory, Cambridge, she was Lecturer at Darlington Training College, 1913-1914 and then lecturer in logic, Manchester University, 1914-1915. Between 1924 and 1927 she was Head of Malting House School, Cambridge, and experimental school which fostered the individual development of children. Isaacs also trained and practised as a psychoanalyst. In 1933 she became the first Head of the Department of Child Development at the Institute of Education, University of London, where she established an advanced course in child development for teachers of young children. Between 1929 and 1940 she was also an 'agony aunt' under the pseudonym of 'Ursula Wise', replying to readers' problems in child care journals. She married twice, firstly to William Brierley and secondly (in 1922) to Nathan Isaacs.

From the guide to the Papers of Susan Isaacs, 1928-1979, (Institute of Education, University of London)