Frances Craig
{{Short description|Australian headmistress (1888–1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
Elinor Frances Craig (1888–1969) was a teacher in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was the headmistress of Somerville House and continued to operate the school during World War II despite its premises being commandeered for military purposes and the threat of Japanese invasion.{{cite Australian Dictionary of Biography |last1=Gill|first1=K. E.|title=Craig, Elinor Frances (1888–1969)|id2=craig-elinor-frances-9853|accessdate=3 March 2017|date=1993}}
Early life
Known as Frances Craig, she was born in 1888 at Swansea, Tasmania. However, her father, Rev. William Waters Craig who was a Presbyterian clergyman was sent to Singleton, New South Wales, and so Frances completed her primary school teaching there.
Frances Craig began teaching in 1912 at a school based in Newcastle, but later enrolled at the University of Sydney and studied there.
Teaching career
Soon after, in 1917, Craig transferred to the University of Queensland in order to take a position as resident mistress at Brisbane High School for Girls (called Somerville House in 1920) where she finished her degree in 1919. After some time abroad where she undertook further study and experience, in 1932 Craig accepted the invitation at Somerville House to become vice-principal following the retirement of Constance Elizabeth Harker. She was appointed principal of Somerville House from 1 January 1941.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172622010|title=MISS E. F. CRAIG SOMERVILLE HOUSE NEW PRINCIPAL|date=20 August 1940|location=Queensland, Australia|page=15 (CITY FINAL LAST MINUTE NEWS)|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=The Telegraph|accessdate=9 May 2017}}
From January 1942 in World War II, the premises on which Somerville House was located was commandeered by the Australian Military Forces,{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172705741|title=NON-STATE SCHOOLS WANT REVIEW OF OPENING BAN|date=28 January 1942|location=Queensland, Australia|page=3 (Second Edition)|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=The Telegraph|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50143201|title=SOMERVILLE HOUSE IN HANDS OF ARMY|date=28 January 1942|issue=2621|location=Queensland, Australia|page=1|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=The Courier-mail|accessdate=9 May 2017}} and later used as a headquarters by a supply section of the United States Army. Day pupils were divided between Drysllwyn in Auchenflower and Queen Alexandra Home in Coorparoo, while the boarders were relocated to Mioiminda in Stanthorpe.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97137659|title=Eight Schools|date=9 December 1943|issue=22|location=Queensland, Australia|volume=9|page=10|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=Queensland Country Life|accessdate=9 May 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50136556|title=STANTHORPE BOARDING CENTRE FOR SCHOOLS|date=17 February 1942|issue=2638|location=Queensland, Australia|page=5|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=The Courier-mail|accessdate=9 May 2017}} Due to Craig's persistence and effort to keep together dispersed centres, students were able to return to the former school grounds in January 1945 where classes commended on 6 February.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98296898|title=Flagpole & Gong As Souvenirs|date=21 January 1945|issue=770|location=Queensland, Australia|page=4|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=Sunday Mail|accessdate=9 May 2017}}
Craig retired on 30 April 1953.{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article217242744|title=SOMERVILLE HOUSE CHANGE|date=8 November 1952|location=Queensland, Australia|page=18 (LAST RACE)|via=National Library of Australia|newspaper=Brisbane Telegraph|accessdate=9 May 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Frances}}
Category:Schoolteachers from Queensland
Category:Australian schoolteachers