Dundee Celebrates Life of Mary Lily Walker –

A Woman of Substance

Just recently in Dundee a plaque marking the birthplace of Victorian social reformer Mary Lily Walker was unveiled.  Mary was a clever lassie and she excelled academically. She was educated at Tayside House, and later at the High School of Dundee between 1880 and 1881. She then attended University College Dundee where she was one of the very first graduates and she is credited with spearheading the social work infrastructure of the city. She was the first to gather evidence on housing and the health of women working in Dundee's jute factories.

Helping Others

Walker's interest in social reform was lit by the Dundee Social Union which was composed a group of the university's professors who wanted to improve the quality of life of Dundee's poor. She worked as a rent collector and she was appointed Superintendent of Housing and Chief Manager of properties. All the time she strove to improve the lives of others, starting women’s clubs and the like. She Lived in London for a while, but the pull of her ain folk was such that she returned home in 1899 and resumed her work with the Dundee Social Union.

An Early Ending

But Mary’s life was cut short and she died in Dundee in 1913, four days before her 50th birthday. The plaque ceremony at the Perth Road house took place on of Mary Lily Walker's 153rd birthday. Happy birthday Mary Walker.

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