First-class honours in civil engineering were awarded to Alice Perry in 1906, marking her as one of the earliest women in Europe to earn a professional degree in the field. Her academic success at Queen's College Galway established a precedent for female participation in technical disciplines that had previously remained largely inaccessible to women during the early twentieth century.
Academic Background
Alice Jacqueline Perry was born in 1885 in Wellpark, Galway. She was one of six children born to Martha Park and James Perry. Her father served as the county surveyor for Galway West and co-founded the Galway Electric Light Company. In 1902, Perry secured a scholarship to Queen's College Galway, where she initially studied arts before transitioning to engineering. She excelled in mathematics throughout her studies, ultimately graduating with first-class honours in 1906.
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Immediately following her graduation, Perry received an offer for a senior postgraduate scholarship, which she declined due to the death of her father one month later. In December 1906, she assumed the role of acting county surveyor for Galway County Council. She performed these duties for approximately six months until a permanent successor was selected. Although she applied for the permanent position in Galway and a similar role in Galway East, she was unsuccessful in both attempts. She remains the only woman to have served as a county surveyor in Ireland.
Transition to Government Service and Poetry
In 1908, Perry relocated to London and began working as a factory inspector for the Home Office. She later moved to Glasgow, where she converted to Christian Science in 1915. She married John Shaw in 1916, though he died the following year while serving on the Western Front. Following her retirement from government inspection work in 1921, she turned her attention to literary pursuits. In 1923, she moved to Boston, the headquarters of the Christian Science movement, where she served as a practitioner and editor while publishing seven volumes of poetry.
Fast facts
- Born: 24 October 1885, Wellpark, Galway
- Died: 21 April 1969, Boston
- Education: Queen's College Galway
- Degree: Civil Engineering, 1906
- Occupation: Civil engineer, writer, poet
- Spouse: John Shaw
- Religion: Christian Science
Questions readers ask
Was Alice Perry the first woman to earn an engineering degree in Europe?
No, she was one of the first, following women who graduated from institutions in Portugal and Denmark between 1894 and 1901.
What is the Alice Perry Medal?
It is an All-Ireland medal named in her honour, with prizes first awarded in 2014.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Galway
- Worked as poet, writer and civil engineer
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