Thomson, Mary, 1884-1966, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland,

Mary Thomson was born on 26 May 1884 . Her father, James, was a draper. She attended Kent Road Public School, Glasgow, Scotland and trained as a pupil-teacher there from 1902-1904 , achieving a 1st class pass in her Pupil-Teacher's Institute examinations a year later. She continued her teacher training at the Glasgow Church of Scotland Teacher's Training College, qualifying as a teacher in drawing, singing, needlework and German in 1906.

As part of her course she enrolled in a Latin and Logic course at the University of Glasgow in session 1905-1906 . After qualifying as a teacher Mary returned to Glasgow University in 1906 to continue her studies and graduated with a MA Honours (1st class) in French and German literature and language studies in November 1911 . As the first in order of merit in the examination she was awarded the Mackinnon Scholarship in Modern Languages. During her time at university, Mary also taught French at continuation classes, 1907-1908 and the Tutorial Institute 1909-1910 and was an assistant mistress in modern languages at the Glasgow High School for Girls from 1910-1918 . She spent six months studying in Wernigerode, Germany in 1907 , in Bordeaux and Pyrenees in 1909 , Paris in 1910 and St Malo in 1911 . In July 1914 she went to classes at Greifswald University, Germany , but had to return to Glasgow following the outbreak of war. She carried out voluntary war work in 1915-1917 and then did official war work as a household administrator at Aldershot for the WAAC from 1918-1919 . After the war, she was temporary head teacher of modern languages at Pitlochry Higher Grade School in April and June 1920 , and then taught at Glasgow High School.

In 1921 she married Major Francis C H Mackenzie, Agent of the Union Bank of Scotland, Morningside, Edinburgh . She returned to teaching in 1941 , retiring in 1949 . She died suddenly in March 1966 .

From the guide to the Papers of Mary Thomson, 1884-1966, arts graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1902-1966, (Glasgow University Archives Services)