Ruth Homan (née Waterlow) (8 August 1850 - 6 November 1938) was an educationist and campaigner for women's rights.
Born in Hoxton, she was the daughter of Sir Sydney Hedley Waterlow (1822–1906), stationer and member of parliament. In May 1873 she married Francis Wilkes Homan, but was widowed in 1880.
In 1887 she became a school manager in Chelsea, also studying at South Kensington School of Cookery, and working as a probationer nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital.
Her interest in education led to her being nominated as a candidate for the London School Board in 1891. She was elected as one of the representatives of Tower Hamlets, holding her seat at each subsequent election until the board's abolition in 1904. When the London County Council took over as the capital's education authority she was co-opted to the council's education committee, serving on the day schools and special schools subcommittee.
From 1910 to 1921 she was a poor-law guardian for Ewell, Surrey, subsequently moving to Cornwall, where she died.
Information about some scrapbooks with material relating to her career, held at the London School of Economics, here and here.
References[]
- Jane Martin. Homan, Ruth (1850–1938). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.