Eliza Balmer was one if the best known leaders in the fight for women's admission to University of Toronto. She wrote a petition to the university and encouraged eleven other women to do the same. The petitions were politely worded and were just as politely rejected, so Eliza decided to attend lectures anyway. There is some disagreement about the actual date of her decision to defy the university rules, as well as how she was received by the male students and professors. Some sources give the date as 1883, a year before the formal admission of women in 1884. She came into a philosophy lecture given by a professor who had a reputation for being kind and openly supportive of women's cause. As she entered the room she was greeted wuth many cheers and unfortunately some boo's. She was a heroine as we look back now. It took great courage. Following graduation in 1885, Eliza taught at Hardbord Collegiate in Toronto.
Eliza Balmer was one if the best known leaders in the fight for women's admission to University of Toronto. She wrote a petition to the university and encouraged eleven other women to do the same. The petitions were politely worded and were just as politely rejected, so Eliza decided to attend lectures anyway. There is some disagreement about the actual date of her decision to defy the university rules, as well as how she was received by the male students and professors. Some sources give the date as 1883, a year before the formal admission of women in 1884. She came into a philosophy lecture given by a professor who had a reputation for being kind and openly supportive of women's cause. As she entered the room she was greeted wuth many cheers and unfortunately some boo's. She was a heroine as we look back now. It took great courage. Following graduation in 1885, Eliza taught at Hardbord Collegiate in Toronto.
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