M. Smyth

Margaret Smyth was born on 1 March 1872 at Maitland St, Dunedin, the daughter of George Smyth, a saddler, & Barbara nee Johnston.

Margaret attended William St School, where she was awarded a junior scholarship by the Otago Education Board, until 1885 when she enrolled at the Girls High School.

In 1890 Margaret passed the NZ university junior scholarship exam. She obtained a BA from the University of Otago in 1894 and in 1896 a MA with honours in Mental Science.

From 1900 until 1902 Margaret was working as an assistant teacher at Overn Lodge, Boarding & Day School, Clarke St.

It was in 1902 that Margaret Smyth started teaching morning classes for girls at the Trades Hall, Moray Place later to be renamed St Andrews Collegiate School. She was principal of this school until 1923 when it appears to have closed and Margaret went to England and the Continent for a 2 year trip.

Margaret died on 24 October 1934 and is buried in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin with her parents.

In 1937 the St Andrew’s Collegiate ex girls club 32 M Smyth donated the “Margaret Smyth Memorial Prize for Literature” for pupils at Otago Girls High School.