JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post 
[The decorative gilt-stamped title of the cover of the volumes of my run of the great journal, Nature, 1871]
In the 23 November 1871 issue of Nature appears "Science for Women", a sort of unsigned editorial. It is one in an interesting series of (for the most) part positive revelations about the education of women in the sciences, a step towards, well, not "equality", but a normalization, a rapprochement, extending the field of technical education away from the ruling/private school/university class of men towards women. This was happening at a time when there was not only a distinct division between men and women in education but also between the classes.
The article states in part:
"To place the matter on its right footing, it is essential that the work should be undertaken by the very best teachers we have at our command; and in London at least this is being done in a manner that must in time bring forth good fruit".
And then:
"The Ladies' Educational Association of London has wisely confined its teaching to that of the professors of University College, thus affording a guarantee that the instruction shall be of a first-class kind ; and now that the whole scientific staff of the College has placed its services at the disposal of the Association, and the Council has given permission for the lectures to be delivered within its walls, with full use of its philosophical apparatus, a scientific training is for the first time offered to ladies on a par with that obtained by its male students".
The article ends with:
"The advantage which the community, no less than individuals, will gain when some knowledge of Natural and Physical Science is spread throughout our female population, is so obvious that we have no fear but that the movement now happily inaugurated will spread and prosper in spite of temporary checks and disappointments".
The article is located in full at the University of Wisconsin digital collection, here.
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