Tripos, Natural Sciences

The publication of the Tripos results was the highlight of the year. In 1882, the success of Natural Science students in the examinations provided especial excitement The scene last year, when news was brought out that we had obtained three first classes in Natural Science, was a never-to-be-forgotten one the wildest excitement ensued, bells were set ringing, and many other frivolous things were done in the heat of our enthusiasm. 29... 

Mary Johnson,45 a graduate of Newnham, became one of the first women researchers in the Cambridge Chemistry Laboratories. Born on 14 January 1895, Johnson was educated at Bede College School, Sunderland. She had actually wanted to read mathematics at Newnham when she entered in 1913, but inadequate preparation at school resulted in a change of plans and she took chemistry instead. When she completed the Part II of the Natural Science Tripos in 1917, she placed above all of the men in her year. 

Stephenson was educated by a governess until the age of 12, at which point she received a scholarship to attend the Berkhampsted High School for Girls. It was her mother who insisted that Stephenson obtain a university education, and that Newnham was the appropriate place. She attended Newnham from 1903 until 1906, taking the Part I Natural Sciences Tripos in chemistry, physiology, and zoology. 

The Cookery Side of the Domestic Science staff has a distinct acquisition in Miss Marjory Stevenson [sic] from the Gloucester School of Domestic Science. She has taken the Natural Science tripos (chief subject chemistry) and also a first class Diploma in Cookery a combination of certificates which seems at the present moment to have been achieved only by herself. Unfortunately, owing to present limitations, a good deal of her King s College work will be at the Clapham Housewifery School, though with our students only she will not be able to spend much time in our own small Kitchen Laboratory.50... 

This book became one of the important texts of the mid-century, being recommended to those taking the newly approved courses of the Natural Science School at Oxford and of the Natural Sciences Tripos at Cambridge in the 1850s. ... 

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