‘MISS ANNIE STIRLING’

The second in the series of “Women in the stacks”.

This cowl and mitts set is inspired by the architecture of the main library at the University of Glasgow. Originally housed in the Gilbert Scott building, it is now a towering block on Hillhead Street and its stern vertical windows form the main feature of this design. Four women came to work at the library in 1918-19 for £75 pa (much less than their male counterparts) - Miss Chalmers, Miss Irving, Miss Stirling and Miss Todd.

Little else is known about them - there are no images and their first names are recorded just once in the Library Assistants’ Calendar.

With enormous thanks to Sam and Fiona at University of Glasgow Archives and Special Collections for detailed research into their early librarians.