Brennan, Anna Teresa (1879 - 1962)

Anna Brennan, member of a talented Victorian family, was a devout Catholic who actively pursued the cause of women's equality throughout her life. She was the first woman to graduate in law at the University of Melbourne in 1909 and practised as a solicitor in her brother's legal firm for fifty years. She was a foundation member of the Lyceum Club in 1912 and president from 1940-41.The Victorian Legal Women's Association was established in 1931 with Brennan serving as president. A founding committee member of the Catholic Women's Social Guild in 1916, later the Catholic Women's League, she served as president from 1918-1920. She joined the Victorian branch of St Joan's International Alliance, holding the office of president from 1938-1945 and again in 1948 until her death in 1962.

Anna Brennan was the thirteenth child of Michael Brennan, farmer and his wife Mary nee Maher. She commenced medical studies at the University of Melbourne in 1904, but was not permitted to continue as she was 'too nervous to do the dissections'. She commenced the law course in 1906, graduating in 1909. At the university she became a member of the Princess Ida Club for women students, was an office bearer from 1907-1909 and remained a committee member until 1913. She represented the Princess Ida Club on the national Council of Women in 1912

She became a partner in her brother Frank's firm, specialising in the matrimonial field and campaigned for more equitable laws in relation to divorce. She was the second woman in Victoria to be admitted to practice.

Her commitment to her Catholic faith was evident in her involvement with the Catholic Women's Social Guild, lecturing and writing for its publications Women's Social Work and its successor Horizon.

Joan of Arc was an inspiration to her and she joined the forerunner of the St Joan's International Alliance, the Catholic Women's Suffrage Society in London. She was an inaugural member of the Victorian chapter of the St Joans' International Alliance when it was established in 1936 and was president from 1938-45 and 1948-62.

Membership

• Lyceum Club (Melbourne) (1912 - )

  [1912 - 1962]

• Princess Ida Club (1888 - 1915)

  Joined the Club in 1904, held office in 1907-1909 and remained on the committee until 1913

  [1904 - 1913]

Presided

• Catholic Women's League Victoria/ Wagga Wagga (1916 - )

  [1918 - 1920]

• Lyceum Club (Melbourne) (1912 - )

  [1940 - 1942]

• St Joan's International Alliance (1936 - )

  [1938 - 1945]

Related Corporate Bodies

• National Council of Women of Victoria (1902 - )

  Represented the Princess Ida Club

  [1912 - ]

Book Sections

• Campbell, Ruth and Morgan, Margaret, 'Brennan, Anna Teresa', in Nairn, Bede and Serle, Geoffrey (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 7, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., 1979, pp. 395-396. [ Details... ]

Journal Articles

• Blackall, Alice, 'Anna Brennan…the Valiant Woman', The Horizon, February, 1963, p. 3. [ Details... ]
• Brennan, Anna T, 'Tributes to a Medical Missionary Pioneer: Dr Mary Glowrey (Sister Mary of the Sacred Heart) - First C.W.S.G. President', The Horizon, July, 1957, p. 4; 11. [ Details... ]

See also

• Horizon in retrospect, 1916-1986, Catholic Women's League Committee, Melbourne, 1985, 48 pp. [ Details... ]
• Gillison, Joan, The Lyceum Club, Melbourne 1912-1962., The Lyceum Club, Melbourne, 1962, 15 pp. [ Details... ]