Edith Emily Dornwell BSc (31 August 1865 – 18 November 1945) (later Raymond) was the first woman in Australia to graduate with a science degree, the first woman to graduate from the University of Adelaide, and the first person, male or female, to graduate with a science degree at the University of Adelaide.

Family The daughter, and first child, of German immigrant Bernhardt Carl Friedrich "Bernard" Dornwell (1842–1885),Deaths: Dornwell, The (Adelaide Express and Telegraph, (Wednesday, 25 September 1878), p. 2. and Sarah Ann Dornwell (1839–1931), née Phillips, later Mrs. Frederick William Newman,Married: Dornwell—Phillips, The South Australian Advertiser, (Monday, 10 October 1864), p. 2.Marriages: Newman—Dornwell, The Adelaide Observer, (Saturday, 24 May 1890), p. 24.Deaths: Newman, The (Adelaide) Advertiser, (Saturday, 19 December 1931), p. 38. Edith Emily Dornwell was born in New Zealand on 31 August 1865.New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages Births Registration no. 1865/27585. The family later moved to Adelaide, South Australia.

Dornwell married Lionel Charles Raymond (1868–1943),Deaths: Raymond, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Friday, 14 May 1943), p. 10. at St Andrew's Church, Walkerville on 13 February 1895.Marriages: Raymond—Dornwell, The (Adelaide) Evening Journal, (Wednesday, 20 February 1895), p. 2. They had two children: Oliver Claude Raymond (1895-1980),The South Australian Register, (Monday, 27 January 1896), p. 4.Deaths: Raymond, The Age, (Saturday, 27 December 1980), p. 19. and Roland Lionel Raymond (1899–1964).Rhodes Scholar: Medical Student, The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, (Wednesday, 8 November 1922), p. 8.Deaths: Raymond, The Sydney Morning Herald, (Thursday, 30 January 1964), p. 22.

Education Dornwell initially studied at the Grote Street Model School; and, following her father's early death (she was just 14), Dornwell won a bursary to attend the Advanced School for Girls (now Adelaide High School) the only state high school in South Australia during the 19th century. Whilst at this school in 1880 she won first prize and £20 for the "Exhibition for Girls" examination. She matriculated in 1882 with honours in French, German, animal physiology and modern history.

University of Adelaide Dornwell was accepted into a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Adelaide in 1883, just two years after the university had amended its charter to enrol women. She was one of the first women to enrol at the university and their first student, male or female, to enrol in a science program. Dornwell excelled in her studies. In April 1883, she received the Sir Thomas Elder Prize in Physiology, for which she received a microscope. In 1889, a representative of the University of Adelaide stated that, "The most brilliant student in the science course, up to the present, has been a woman— Miss E Dornwell, who passed the first, second, and third year of that course first class in elementary physiology. As will be seen by reference to the winners of Sir T. Elder's prizes the women have been distinctly superior to the men."

Encouraged by her physiology teacher, Professor Edward Stirling, Dornwell stated, "Dr Stirling said that if I were successful, and he was convinced that I would be, I would gain the distinction of being the first woman graduate of the university, and the first woman to graduate in science in Australia."

Dornwell graduated in 1885 with first class honours in physics and physiology."Miss E.E. Dornwell, First Lady-Graduate of the Adelaide University: (portrait), The Pictorial Australian, (Saturday, 1 May 1886), p. 68; Miss Edith Emily Dornwell, The Pictorial Australian, (Saturday, 1 May 1886), p. 70. At her graduation the university's chancellor, Chief Justice Sir Samuel Way said "In your distinguished undergraduate career, and in the manner in which you have taken that degree, you have not merely done honour to the University, but you have vindicated the right of your sex to compete, and to compete on equal terms, with other undergraduates for the honours and distinctions of the University."

Teaching career Following her graduation Dornwell taught mathematics, physics, Latin and physiology at her former school, the Advanced School for Girls. In 1887 she moved to Hawthorn, Victoria and became the resident teacher at the Methodist Ladies College;(News Item), The Christian Weekly and Methodist Journal, (Friday, 23 December 1887), p. 6. and, in 1890, she accepted the post as headmistress at the private Riviere Ladies' College in Woollahra, New South Wales.(Riviere Ladies' College, Woollahra), The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, (Friday, 1 December 1876), p. 4."On Tuesday, December 15", The (Sydney) Evening News, (Saturday, 19 December 1891), p. 7.Educational: Riviere College, Woollahra (Advertisement), The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, (Saturday, 16 January 1892), p. 12.

Whilst at Riviere, as one of the 65 applicants, she applied for the position of principal at the newly established Women's College at Sydney University: the position was eventually (unanimously) awarded to Miss Louisa Macdonald (B.A., M.A., London) in December 1891.(News Item), The (Sydney) Evening News, (Saturday, 26 December 1891, p. 6.

Later life Following her marriage in 1895, Dornwell moved to Fiji where he husband, Lionel, had accepted a post with the CSR Limited. The couple went on to raise their two sons, Oliver and Roland, who were sent from Fiji back to Sydney to continue their secondary education in Australia. Upon her husband's retirement Dornwell returned to Sydney where she was active in the Lyceum Club and the National Council of Women.

Death Dornwell died in Sydney 18 November 1945, aged 80.(Legal Notice), Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, No. 38, (Friday, 12 April 1946), pp. 943-934.

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References

DT.1: Candidates for Degrees: Faculty of Arts, The (Sydney) Daily Telegraph, (Monday, 16 May 1887), p. 3 HM.1: University of Tasmania, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Wednesday, 23 December 1896), p.  4. HM.2: University of Tasmania, The (Hobart Mercury, (Tuesday, 21 November 1899), p. 3. IN.1: The Lady Bachelors of Art, The Illustrated Sydney News, (Saturday, 6 June 1885), p. 10. JK.1: Kirby, J.C. (1889), "Co-Education in Australia", The (Boston) Woman's Journal, Vol.20, No.25, (22 June 1889), p 200. PA.1: Miss Edith Emily Dornwell, The Pictorial Australian, (Saturday, 1 May 1886), p. 70. TN.1: The University, The Tasmanian News, (Wednesday, 8 April 1903), p. 2.

External links Teritiary Education for Women The Manning Index of South Australian History, State Library of South Australia Women graduates of the University of Adelaide SA Memory, State Library of South Australia Series 772 - Edith Emily Dornwell [Papers and Photographs] The University of Adelaide Archives