Name Olive Wheeler Died 1963 | Books Bergson & Education | |
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Dame Olive Annie Wheeler, DBE (4 May 1886 – 26 September 1963) was a Welsh educationist, psychologist and university lecturer, who later became Professor of Education at Cardiff University.
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Early life
Born in Brecon, the daughter of Henry Burford Wheeler, she attended Brecon County School for Girls and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. At Aberystwyth she was elected president of the Students' Representative Council. She held the degrees of BSc (1907), MSc (1911) and DSc (1916).
Career
Her first teaching appointment was as lecturer in mental and moral science at Cheltenham Ladies College. She was later appointed to a lectureship in education at the University of Manchester, and served as Dean of the Faculty of Education. Wheeler stood as Labour candidate in the 1922 general election against Thomas Arthur Lewis.
Wheeler moved to the University College at Cardiff where she served as Professor of Education, as well as (temporarily) the Dean of the Faculty of Education. In 1947 she became chairman of the Welsh Advisory Council on Youth Employment and chairman of the South Wales District of the Workers Education Association.
Damehood
She was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1950 New Year Honours to education in Wales.
Death
She died suddenly in the Kardomah Café at Cyncoed, Cardiff on 26 September 1963. In her will, she bequeathed her library of educational materials to the University of Cardiff, as well as funds to create an annual prize of £500 (equivalent to £9,000 in 2015) to be awarded to the university's top student in the department of education.