When the University of Leicester asked for people to explore their history through their archives
I volunteered to take part. When I started this project Mary Swainson was a complete unknown to
me. My main research interest is in the history of disability and in particular the important role
that disabled people have played within society. It was in this hall, De Montfort Hall, Leicester,
100 years ago, one of Britain's greatest musicians gave his breakthrough concert -
his name was Malcolm Sargent. I've been researching Agnes Fielding Johnson, one of
the women who paved the way for Leicestershire and Rutland University College, in 1921.
I've been looking at the university's coat of arms and its motto
which when translated into English means, 'so that they may have life'.
At the start of the University of Leicester's life an incredible woman named Dr Ethel Nancy
Miles Thomas set up the botany department. It was the first science department at the University
of Leicester. The field hospital was used to help soldiers recuperate after World War One
and in doing so it was helped by Dryad furniture company, which was founded by Harry Peach.
As the centenary of Leicester University was due in 2021 I wanted to research Harry's story and
started in the university archives. Harry went on to be an important benefactor for the university,
donating money and items, whilst by the 1930s Dryad Handicrafts was the world's largest supplier
of craft materials. Harry was a businessman but he was also a philanthropist and he helped
found Leicester University, not only by his many donations, but by his enthusiasm and his support.
In 1948 Mary Swainson arrived in Leicester - she was full of new ideas and compassion.
She saw a need and worked tirelessly to meet it. It was the right time. The war was over,
University College Leicester was growing, new students were arriving,
others were returning, resuming courses delayed by the war.
She was a dedicated scientist and made significant discoveries into the fertilisation of flowers.
Her passion in zeal started Leicester on its journey to become one of the highest regarded
universities in the country for science. On 3rd February 1921 he conducted a top-flight orchestra
in his own composition composed specially for the occasion, An Impression on a Windy Day.
Agnes was an early member of the Leicester Women Suffragettes - she fought alongside the National
Union of Women Workers to get quality training for midwives. Her determination led to a substantial
improvement for the women and poor of Leicester and I think she would have seen the university
as a continuation of that work. What struck me fairly soon was how interested Harry was in the
environment. He was so concerned about people littering that he wrote a pamphlet entitled,
'Let Us Tidy Up', and he got no less a person than King George V to provide the opening statement.
Even more impressively he took on the petrol giant Shell-Mex and persuaded them to remove
thousands of advertising hoardings that were causing an eyesore throughout the countryside.
Her own background had given her an insight into the sorts of problems that students
might encounter. She worked energetically to establish a student counselling service,
she fought the serious stigma that mental health issues faced both from the medical
profession and public opinion. It was a turning point in his career. His sense of theatre elegant
dress and sheer panache powered a meteoric career in Britain and throughout the world.
I've been researching Malcolm Sargent for many years now and a little known
fact that I've only just become aware of is that shortly after his breakthrough concert in 1921
he was appointed head of music at the newly formed Leicester University College.
I discovered that there were a lot of different mottos that the university could choose from,
including suggestions made by members of the local community. Hearing them now gives us
a sense of what the people of Leicester wanted the university to become when it opened in 1921.
They included, 'worshipers of truth, enemies of falsehood',
'that life may be fuller and brighter', 'dare to be wise', 'I hand on the torch of life',
'pursuits grow into habits', and 'the light of the city and its glory'.
It's been fascinating to use the university records as a window into the upper middle
class life of the time and to see how Agnes fought for social change.
Sadly she passed away in 1917, shortly before the university opened and so she never got to see the
city reap the rewards from that. Two years after her death her husband Thomas bought and donated
the land for the university college. The Fielding Johnson building was named after Thomas but I
think it's important that we use it as a reminder of Agnes and all she did for us in Leicester.
I am so glad to be able to tell the story of this extraordinary lady
who, in her own words, was a pioneer in student counselling. Researching her life,
trying to piece together all the different elements gleaned from the university archives
and her own published papers for both national and international conferences,
showed me what a truly remarkable person she was - a force to be reckoned with. It's amazing to see
Dr Thomas's history in the archives and no wonder if she realised that she would be a forerunner for
the incredible women scientists that we have at Leicester today. I often wonder what he would make
of Leicester today if he could visit the campus - I'm sure at the very least he would be proud
that this library in the law school is named the Harry Peach Library in his honour. It's amazing
what we can find out about our past right here in Leicester by visiting the university's archives.