Ruth Atkins
Ruth Ethel Atkins (1911–1984) was an Australian political scientist, academic and author. In 1952, she became the first woman to be employed as an academic by the New South Wales University of Technology (later University of New South Wales).
Early life and education
[edit]Atkins was born in 1911, daughter of Ernest Baldwin and Ethel Atkins.[1] She studied English (Class III honours), philosophy and history at the University of Sydney, graduating with a BA in 1932.[2] To gain experience in economics, she undertook research for Professor Sydney James Butlin.[3]
Career
[edit]Following graduation, Atkins' first job was as a teacher at Guildford Infants School in Sydney in 1933.[4] In the 1940s she gave lectures for the Workers' Education Association.[5] In March 1949 she resigned from her teaching position at Homebush Boys' High School[6] to work as a part-time government and political lecturer at the University of Sydney.[3] She left that position in December 1949 to further her career at the London School of Economics, where she worked as a tutor and researcher in trade unionism.[7][3]
Returning to Australia, in 1952, Atkins became the first woman to be employed as a lecturer by the New South Wales University of Technology (later University of New South Wales).[8][9]
She was promoted to Associate Professor in 1965 and retired in 1973.[8]
Atkins died in March 1984 and was cremated.[10]
Selected publications
[edit]- Atkins, Ruth (1950). The Webb Local Government Collection : report of investigation made May-September 1950.
- Atkins, Ruth; Graycar, Adam (1972). Governing Australia. Sydney Wiley. ISBN 978-0-471-03614-2.
- Atkins, Ruth (1978). The government of the Australian Capital Territory. University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0702214302.
- Atkins, Ruth (1979). Albany to Zeehan : a new look at local governments. Law Book Co. ISBN 978-0-455-19874-3.
References
[edit]- ^ "Atkins Ruth E". New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "The University". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 416. New South Wales, Australia. 15 April 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c "Politics Are Her Job— As Varsity Lecturer". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). No. 225. New South Wales, Australia. 17 May 1953. p. 22. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Special Gazette under the "Public Service Act, 1902." Appointments". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 192. New South Wales, Australia. 17 November 1933. p. 4101. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 33, 762. New South Wales, Australia. 9 March 1946. p. 20. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Resignations". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 38. New South Wales, Australia. 11 March 1949. p. 729. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "To Study in England". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). No. 46. New South Wales, Australia. 4 December 1949. p. 15. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Origins: Newsletter of the UNSW Archives No. 5". Digital Collections | Library. p. 6. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Atkins, Ruth Ethel". The Australian Women's Register. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Notice of intended distribution of estate.—Any person having any claim upon the estate of Ruth Ethel Atkins". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 154. New South Wales, Australia. 2 November 1984. p. 5416. Retrieved 12 May 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
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