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Born Anna Belle Douglass in upstate New
York in 1863, Miss Anabel Douglas (later known as Annie) was the
daughter of a Scottish-American farmer. After losing both parents, she
embarked on an impressive academic journey, attending Bryn Mawr College
and then Cambridge University's Newnham College, where she earned a
Class 2 in History in 1893 at the age of 30.
Her career as an
educator began at Queen's Gate School for girls in Kensington. When the
founder left, taking most of the pupils with her, Anabel faced the
daunting task of rebuilding the school. Through her leadership, she
successfully increased enrollment, attracting students from diverse
international backgrounds, including her niece from the US. She
championed academic rigor, introducing public examinations and sending
the first Queen's Gate student to university in 1903. Anabel was a
highly respected and inspiring teacher, known for her "brilliant
personality" and ability to "galvanise" students to think and become
"good citizens."
Beyond the classroom, Anabel was active in
women's affairs, keen on developing women's careers beyond just
marriage. She founded a Debating Society at Queen's Gate and in 1904,
lent the school's premises for a meeting of the Central Bureau for the
Employment of Women.
After stepping down as Principal in 1918,
Anabel, who became a naturalized British citizen in 1914, continued to
influence intellectual circles. She hosted a renowned salon at "The
White House" on Tite Street, Chelsea, once home to artist James
Whistler. Here, she cultivated "brilliant conversation" among poets,
painters, writers, and musicians from around the world, earning her a
reputation as "first and foremost a pioneer of Anglo-American
friendship."
On 23rd March 1933 Anabel was one of the 100 leading women of her day who attended the South Kensington dinner in honour of Lady Margaret Rhondda, at the Rembrandt Hotel, very close to Queen's Gate School, and still there today.
Annie, Anabel, Anne Bella, died of pneumonia in Bath, 26th January 1946, living at the Royal York House Hotel, four days short of her 93rd birthday. The funeral was private. In her will were mentioned her friend Mrs Alexis ffrench of Mortham Tower, Barnard Castle and a number of Mrs ffrench’s family including Anabel’s goddaughter, one other beneficiary, and Eric Alexander Douglas, a nephew, I believe living in Pasadena then, the son of her brother William Alexander Douglas, the lawyer (1859 – 1921), and to Foster Douglas, Janet Douglas and Jean Gould, nephew and nieces.
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Source
Sources for this article include:
'The Dinner Table Puzzle' |
