Tipping, Marjorie Jean (1917 - )

Marjorie Tipping is a prolific writer and historian of art and colonial Australia. In 1990, based on her many published scholarly works, she became the first woman to earn the degree of Doctor of Letters by examination from the University of Melbourne. Tipping's books include Eugene von Guerard's Australian Landscapes (1975) Ludwig Becker: Artist & Naturalist with the Burke & Wills Expedition (1978), Melbourne on the Yarra (1978) and Convicts Unbound: The Story of the Calcutta Convicts and Their Settlement in Australia (1988).

Tipping was the first woman president (1972-1975) and fellow (1968) of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. She was a member of the Victorian Council of the Arts and numerous other committees and community organizations, often in a voluntary capacity. Tipping was appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (13 June 1981), for her contribution to the Arts.

Tipping is the patron of and one of the founders of the E W Tipping Foundation for Mentally Retarded Children and Adults, established in 1970. Tipping has traveled on six continents; her interests include music, theatre, archaeology, Australiana, and Chinese art.

Source(s): Personal Communication (2002), Who's Who of Australian Women, Who's Who 2002.

Events

26 March 1917	Born: daughter of John Alexandra and Florence Amelia (nee Paterson) McCredie
28 February 1942	married Edmond William Tipping (dec. 1970)
1958	Organising Chairman four biennial conferences and the Australiana Festival
1963	Founder Affiliated Historical Societies
1965 - 1979	Member Council International Social Service
1968	First woman Fellow Royal Historical Society Victoria
1970	Patron and Foundation Member E W Tipping Foundation for Intellectually Handicapped
1972 - 1975	First woman President of the Royal Historical Society Victoria
1973	Member Literature Board awards Australia Council
1974	Vice-Chairperson, Matthew Flinders Bicentenary Committee
1974 - 1981	Member Victorian Ministry Arts Advisory Council
1975 - 1978	Government nominee Council of Adult Education Committee
1975 - 1987	Government nominee Victorian Government Placenames Committee
1976 - 1984	Foundation Chairman Victorian Publications and Literature Committee
1977	Member Literature Board awards Australia Council
1978 - 1991	Foundation Member Science and Humanities Committee Museum Victoria
1979 - 1980	Member Victorian Theatre Policy Committee Victorian Arts Centre
1981	Doctor C H Currey Fellow
1982 - 1990	Member Board of Directors Victorian State Opera
1990	First woman to receive Doctor of Letters by examination from the University of Melbourne
1992	History Consultant Grundy Television for Convicts Unbound (TV Series)
1996	Member Foundation Committee La Trobe and Baillieu Libraries
1999	Contributor to Encyclopedia of Melbourne project Monash University
1999	Contributor to University Melbourne, Oral History Project

Membership

• Lyceum Club (Melbourne) (1912 - )

Edited Books

• Lake, Marilyn and Kelly, Farley (eds), Double Time: Women in Victoria - 150 Years, Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Ringwood (Vic.), 1985, 476 pp. [ Details... ]

Newspaper Articles

• 'Queen's birthday honours', Weekend Australian, 13-14 January, p. 7. [ Details... ]
• Dunstan, Keith, 'Historian makes history with Doctor of letters Degree', Age, 7 December. [ Details... ]
• Wilson, Steven, 'Rare honour crowns life of scholarship', Australian, 12 December. [ Details... ]

See also

• 'Queen's birthday honours', Age, 13 June, p. 14. [ Details... ]
• Herd, Margaret (ed.), Who's who in Australia 2002, 38 edn, Crown Content, Melbourne, 2002, 2020 pp. [ Details... ]
• Lofthouse, Andrea (ed.), Who's who of Australian women, Methuen Australia, North Ryde (NSW), 1982, 504 pp. [ Details... ]