Grace Paterson


Grace Chalmers Paterson was a campaigner, suffragist, temperance activist and educationalist.

Early life

Paterson was born in Glasgow to Georgina Smith and William Paterson, a merchant.

Domestic education

She campaigned for the improvement of domestic education for working class girls. She was a friend and supporter of Janet Galloway and Christian Guthrie Wright, founder of the Edinburgh School of Cookery.
She was one of the first women elected to a school board in Glasgow, in 1885. She also founded the Glasgow school of cookery, alongside Margaret Black. She was the "driving force" behind this institution. She was involved in the temperance movement in Scotland.

Women's Suffrage

She was a founder member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Association for Women's Suffrage. She joined the WSPU in 1907.