Rosemary Murray

In 1946, Murray received a telegram from the Mistress of Girton College asking if Murray would like to be interviewed for a position as chemist. Murray recalled  

Although I had not considered what I would do after the war, this seemed too good an opportunity to miss, so off I went in wren uniform to Cambridge and had various interviews and was shown the chemistry laboratories by the professor. I gather later that I caused quite a stir among the technicians — a wren officer in uniform going round the chemistry lab.97 

Initially appointed Lecturer in Chemistry, Murray was promoted in 1949 to a Fellowship, and Tutor and Demonstrator in Organic Chemistry. She continued teaching and research until she was appointed Tutor in Charge of the newly established New Hall. In 1964, her post was renamed President, and in 

1974 New Hall became a College of the University of Cambridge. She remained President until 1981, also holding the post of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 

1975 until 1977. That year, she was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Murray died on 7 October 2004. 

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Walton, K. D. (1996). In retrospect Dame Rosemary Murray. In Walton, K. D. (ed.), Against the Tide Career Paths of Women Leaders in American and British Higher Education, Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation, Bloomington, Indiana. 

Haines, C. M. C. (2001). Murray, Alice Rosemary. International Women in Science A Biographical Dictionary to 1950, ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, California, pp. 217-218. 

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