Biography

Ethel Sophia Fegan (1877-1975), librarian, was born in Kent and educated at Blackheath High School, London. After coming to Girton to read Classics 1896-1900, she studied for the Library Association examinations while teaching classics, and became Librarian at Cheltenham Ladies' College (1908-17). She received an MA in 1907 from Trinity College Dublin (quasi ad eundem) and was elected a Fellow of the Library Association circa 1910. During her time at Cheltenham, she inaugurated courses for professional training in librarianship, conducted correspondence classes for the Library Association, and devised the 'Cheltenham Classification' a library classification for schools. Subsequently she was for 12 years librarian of Girton College (1918-30), becoming an Honorary Fellow of the College in 1948. She also worked with Dr A C Haddon to build up the Haddon Library, and under his influence took the Cambridge Diploma in Anthropology (1929). After a sabbatical year in Nigeria (1928-29) she was appointed Lady Superintendent of Education for the Nigerian Government (1930-35). She stayed in Nigeria, as a lay worker at Zaria Leper Colony (1938-39 and again 1945-46) for the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association, before resuming library work, investigating library conditions in British West Africa for the Carnegie Corporation of New York, working in various libraries in the UK and training Africans for library work at Achimota College on the Gold Coast, continuing to work well into her retirement. On her return to Britain, Ethel Fegan worked as a volunteer in Cambridgeshire County Archives until she was over 90.

Found in 1 Collection or Record: