Tessie Camilleri
{{Infobox person
|birth_date={{Birth date|1901|01|06}}
|death_date={{Death date and age|1930|10|02|1901|01|06}}
|alma_mater=University of Malta
}}
Tessie Camilleri (6 January 1901 – 2 October 1930) was the first female graduate at the University of Malta.
Life
Camilleri was born into a well-educated family from Sliema. One of her aunts was an inspector of schools, while three others ran a private school in Valletta.{{Cite news|url=https://www.um.edu.mt/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/88941/theriseandrise.pdf|title=The Rise and Rise of the Female Graduate: Some milestones in tertiary education for women in Malta |last=Camilleri |first=Patricia |date=2007 |work=University of Malta|access-date=25 March 2019}}
Camilleri matriculated in June 1919, and entered the University of Malta in October 1919.{{Cite web |last=Schiavone |first=Michael |date=2024-01-06 |title=Biography: Tessie Camilleri |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/biography-tessie-camilleri.1076097 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}} At the university, she read English literature, philosophy and Latin literature. She graduated B.Litt on 2 May 1922.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20071125/education/maltas-first-female-graduate.185563|title=Malta's first female graduate|date=25 November 2007|website=Times of Malta|access-date=31 March 2019}} She later married Edgar Staines OBE, an administrator at the University of Malta (Secretary to the University Council), with whom she had four children. She died at the age of 29 on 2 October 1930.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20071123/local/university-immortalises-first-female-graduate.185251|title=University immortalises first female graduate|date=23 November 2007|website=Times of Malta|access-date=31 March 2019}}
The 2 May 1922 edition of the Daily Malta Chronicle reported on her graduation, stating "Miss Camilleri had greatly distinguished herself in the course of literature, revealing intellectual endowments and attainments of no mean order, and we heartily congratulate her on her well-deserved success which has gained for her the distinction of being the first lady graduate of the University of Malta."
After graduating, Camilleri married Edgar Staines, a university administrator, with whom she had four children. Camilleri died in 1930, at age 29.
Legacy
References
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Category:20th-century Maltese women
Category:University of Malta alumni
Category:20th-century Maltese people
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