The Founders: Constance Duncan

Ada Constance Duncan (1896-1970), known as ‘Constance’, was an activist and teacher. She studied arts at the University of Melbourne and, throughout her life, was active in supporting international affairs, refugees’ and women’s rights and the peace movement (Langmore, 1996/2020). In 1953, she became the organising secretary for the International House Appeal, one of the first committees established to raise funds for International House (Larkins, 2018, p. 35). She was also a member of the International House Council from 1955 until 1966 (Larkins, 2018, 35).

Speaking in 1954, Constance Duncan outlined some of the goals for International House:

The objectives behind the establishment of International House are to further the cause of international understanding and goodwill by ensuring that the overseas students are made to feel welcome in this country.

Mediaeval universities, 1954

After Constance Duncan died in 1970, the International House Council expressed their appreciation for her contributions to IH:

Miss Duncan was a great internationalist and was dedicated to the ideals of International House. She was a woman of wide interests and was extremely public-spirited. Miss Duncan will always be remembered as one of the founders of International House.

International House Council, 22 September 1970

The Council also agreed to name a room at International House in honour of Constance Duncan.

References

Langmore, D. (1996/2020). Duncan, Ada Constance (1896-1970). In Australian dictionary of biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/duncan-ada-constance-10061

Larkins. F. (2018). International House Melbourne: Sixty years of fraternitas. Melbourne University Publishing.

Mediaeval universities always welcomed students. (1954, June 1). Camperdown Chronicle, 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article24007476