As Principal of the Women's College, Macdonald played an active role in university life. She was involved in the Sydney University Women's Association, which she helped found in 1892; the University Women's Society (University Settlement); and the Women's Club.

During the 1890s she was also active in the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales and the Women's Literary Society.

In 1907 Macdonald was the first woman to stand for the University Senate, but was defeated.

Events

1884

Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in classics, University of London

1886

Master of Arts, University of London

c. 1887 -

Worked as a private tutor, and as a researcher in classical antiquities at the British Museum.

c. 1890 - c. 1910

While Principal of Women's College, Macdonald continued to pursue her interest in classics, lecturing and cataloguing the Greek vases in the Nicholson Musuem of Antiquities.

1892

Moved to Australia to become the founding Principal of the Women's College, University of Sydney

1907

First woman to stand for the University of Sydney Senate, but was defeated

1914 - 1915

Vice-President of the Classical Association of New South Wales

1919

Returned to London, where she joined the council of the University of London

Sources used to compile this entry: Alexander, H., 'Macdonald, Louisa (1858-1949)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100245b.htm; Miss Louisa Macdonald 1858-1949, The Women's College, 2009, http://www.thewomenscollege.com.au/louisa.html.