The recent chance discovery of a list of the first female articled clerks has helped unlock this hidden history, notably revealing the name of the first woman to become an articled clerk - Ethel Mary Lovelock.

It is time now to throw a spotlight on the names of these pioneers and recognise their achievement.

• More information on training under articles

First ten female articled clerks (by article date)

	Name	article number	date of articles	Term (years)	address	employer	ACA	FCA
1	Lovelock, Ethel	9231	31/12/1919	5	London, EC2	Henry Lovelock	1926	1960
2	Johnson, Zoe Margaret B.A.	9256	20/01/1920	5	London, EC	E.E. Johnson (died), Frank Brown	n/a	n/a
3	Whitering, Bertha B.A.	9405	17/02/1920	3	London, EC	Francis William Le Blount Lean	n/a	n/a
4	Smith, Winifred Mary	9436	24/02/1920	5	Ipswich	Francis Goodchild	n/a	n/a
5	Pearce, Mildred Emily Alys	9527	17/03/1920	5	Dorchester	Thomas Alfred Pearce	1925	1932
6	Burt, Eleanor Gwladys	9595	30/04/1920	5	London, EC4	Mark Leicester	n/a	n/a
7	Hey*, Daphne Mary B.A.	9660	06/07/2020	3	Dewsbury	Norman Shaw	n/a	n/a
8	Watts, Ethel B.A.	9814	21/07/1920	3	London, E1	Sidney Williams	1924	1930
9	Meadows, Constance Mary	9833	20/08/1920	5	Mansfield	William Ewart Turner	1926	1960
10	Knowles, Sylvia Marie	9926	15/09/1920	5	London, EC2	Samuel William Hutton	1925	1946

*Although Daphne Mary Hey did not qualify, the next articled clerk with Norman Shaw in Dewsbury was a George Hey (ACA 1935).

First fifty female members

	Name	article no.	articles under	ACA year	employment
1	Smith, Mary Harris	n/a	n/a	1920 May
2	Watts, Ethel B.A.	9814	Sidney Williams	1924 Feb	Homersham & Watts, EC4 in 1925; E. Watts & Co SW1 in 1930; ditto in 1939 and 1955
3	Knowles, Sylvia Marie	9926	Samuel William Hutton	1925 Feb	Clerk to Barton, Mayhew & Co, EC2 in 1930; on own account, Weybridge and London in 1955.
4	Pearce, Mildred Emily Alys	9527	Thomas Alfred Pearce, Dorchester	1925 Aug	With Thomas Pearce & Clayton, Dorchester in 1930; ditto in 1933
5	Meadows, Constance Mary	9833	William Ewart Turner, Mansfield	1925 Oct	Clerk to A.C. Palmer & Co, Northampton in 1930; on own account, Bournemouth in 1955
6	Lovelock, Ethel Mary	9231	Henry Lovelock, EC2	1926 Feb	Clerk to H. Lovelock & Linnett WC2 in 1930; with same (no longer clerk) in 1937; ditto in 1955
7	Livock, Dora Mary B.A.	10344	Herbert Hall, Norwich	1926 Aug	Not in Practice 1930; on own account, SW1 in 1955
8	Barnes-Moss, Alice-Irene (later Clark)	10083	Augustus C Palmer, Northampton	1927 Feb	Clerk to A.C. Palmer & Co, Northampton in 1930; ditto in 1939; on own account, Northampton in 1955
8	Keable, Phyllis Gertud	10908	John Martin Burtenshaw, EC4	1927 Feb	Not in Practice; 1930 and 1937; Secretary & accountant, Civil Service Housing association SW1, in 1955
8	Dimes, Ruby Kathleen Louise B.A. (later Cotton)	12426	Percy Stanley Sykes, W4	1927 Feb	Clerk to Percy Stanley Sykes; Not in Practice 1937 and 1939
11	Acland, Elizabeth Margaret (later Gwynne Evans)	10906	Alfred Hall, EC2	1927 Aug	On own account SW3 in 1930; ditto 1939 and 1955
12	Carvill, Rosina Queenie	10735	Bruce Rogers McNaught, WC	1927 Mar	Not in Practice. 1930
13	Harris, Lynette Mary	10916	John Howard Heaton, Birmingham	1927 Aug	F.H. Stokes, Hart & Co; 1930; Yeatman, Harris & co, Durban, South Africa in 1955.
14	Bell, Eileen	10637	William Barkus Ormond, Newcastle	1928 Feb	Clerk to Howard, Howes & Co, WC2 in 1937; not in practice, North Shields in 1939
14	Chapman, Edna Mary	11162	William Sleighhome Robinson, Scarborough	1928 Feb	Clerk to Robinson, Coulson & Kirby in 1930 and 1937 (no longer clerk); on own account, Scarborough in 1955.
14	Garrett, Evelyn Mary	1119	Joseph Leslie Aris, EC2	1928 Feb	Clerk to Pittman & Arris in 1930; Not in Practice  in 1937; own own account, W14 in 1955
14	Hamlyn, Dora Noeline	11441	Alfred T Chennels / David A Jacobs, EC	1928 Feb	Clerk to Binder, Hamyn & Co EC2, 1937; PWC statistics expert, 1939; own own account, SE13 in 1955
18	Kemp, Nora Annie (later Wills)	11742	Thomas Westhead, Stafford	1928 Mar	Clerk to Wright & Westhead, Stafford in 1930
19	Loring, Grace Lillian B.A.	13464	John Hartley Blackburn, Sheffield	1928 Oct	Clerk to Barton, Mayhew & Co, EC2 in 1930; Barton, Mayhew & Co in 1955
20	Irving, Desda Lindsay	12259	William S Clark / John E Myers, WC2	1929 Feb	Not in Practice in 1930; Edward Myers, Clark & Co WC2 in 1937; ditto in 1955.
21	Collings, Christine May	12821	John Butterworth, Bristol Stan McCombie, Biggleswade	1929 Aug	Clerk to H Slater & Sons, Cambridge in 1930; Not in Practice 1937; On own account, Bishop's Stortford in 955.
21	Wormald, Annie Horsburgh	11086	Charles Frederick Burton, Sunderland	1929 Aug	Not in Practice, 1930; 1937; secretary-accountant at L Dennis & Co. Ltd., Manchester in 1955.
23	Witty, Vivienne Kate (later Arnott)	11289	Thomas Goldie, Kingston-upon-Hull	1930	Ruskin Chambers, Hull in 1930; on own account York in 1955.
23	Brewer, Betty Wooton (later Beech, then Windham-Brown)	11743	Maurice Brewer  / Wilfred Mills, EC4	1930	with Brewer & Knott EC4 in 1937; Brewer & Knott, Mills, Haws, Harper & Co, Waters & Co, Mills, Hawes, Harper & Co.in 1955.
23	Tyacke, Margerye Ruby Schofield (later Clayton)	12663	Thomas Alfred Pearce / Mildred Ethel Alys Pearce, Dorchester	1930	Not in Practice, 1937; Secretary, Lawn Cliff (Flushing) Ltd, Falmouth in 1955.
23	Aston, Mary Cicely Beatrice (later Collett)	13359	Joseph Lester Smith, Birmingham	1930	Not in Practice, 1937; on own account, Rickmansworth in 1955
23	Simmons, Una	13424	Ocar Darton, EC	1930	Not in Practice, 1937; on own account, W11 in 1955
23	Spalding, Adelaide Frederica Howard B.A.	14758	George Curwen Mumford EC	1930	Not in Practice, 1937; Not in practice, Sunny South Laundry Ltd., Worthing in 1955
23	Forrester, Gwendolen Ruth	13202	Clancy Horsfall McKnight, EC	1930	Not in Practice, Clay Catchpole & Co., 1937; on own account, Colchester in 1955
23	Bryant, Violet Evelyn B.A. (later Eyles)	15290	Henry Arthur Van de Linde, EC	1930	Not in practice, Woking in 1939; ditto in 1955.
31	Lauder, Kathleen Maureen (later Carbery)	13549	Ethel Watts, EC	1931	Not in Practice ,1937; on own account Sanderstead in 1955
31	Pearce, Margaret Emily	13571	Horace William Pearce, Portsmouth	1931	With Pearce, Son & Pearce in 1937; with Pearce, Son & Pearce and M.R, Cobbet & Co in Portsmouth 1955.
31	Wharton, Marjorie Evelyn (later Philpot)	13974	Marmaduke Lesley Chapman, Whitby	1931	Not in Practice , 1937; on own account, Pickering in 1955
34	Mannington, Marjorie	14878	Herbert Wilmot Sydenham, EC	1932	With Sydenham, Snowden, Nicholson & Co, EC4 in 191939;Ditto in 1955
34	Richards, Elizabeth Mackie	14523	Clarence Wintle, Birmingham	1932	With Charlton, Long, Houghton & Wintle, Birmingham in 1937; own own account, Birmingham in 1955
34	Girling, Marian Gertude	14684	Geoffrey Crawford Bensuan-Butt, Colchester	1932	With Thomas A Pearce & Clayton, Dorchester in 1937; Not in Practice, Fisons Ltd, Felixstowe in 1955.
34	Paterson, Kathleen May	15047	Clement Gadsby, Cardiff	1932	Not in Practice, Mars Confectioners, Slough 1937; with R.H. March, Son & Co, Cardiff in 1955
34	Willey, Florence Jessie Louisa M.A.	16624	Lynette Mary Harris / Frank Harold Stokes WC2	1932	With Frank H Stokes & Co in 1937; on own account, Cambridge in 1955
34	Thrupp, Hermine Magdalen B.A. (later Clutton-Brock)	16224	Edward P Quartertmain Carter, WC	1932	Not in Practice, Aston Park School, 1937; H.M. Clutton-Brock & Co, Newbury in 1955
40	Unsworth, Marie Cecilia (later Glenton)	14753	Stanley Marsh, St Helens	1933	Not in Practice, 1937; Not in Practice, Warrington in 1955.
40	Vallance, Dorothy	16020	Thomas Higson, Nottingham	1933	With Jacob, Cavenagh & Skeet, Birmingham in 1937
40	Evans, Sarah B.S.C. (later Daniel)	17014	Ethel Watts WC2	1933	Not in Practice, Mars Confectioners, Slough 1937; Not in Practice, Gravesend in 1939. Ammanford, Carmarthenshire in 1955.
43	Hudson, Doris Violet (later Billington)	15326	Frederick James Howett Jones, WC	1934	Not in Practice, Mars Confectioners, Slough 1937; Slough in 1955
43	Baird, Dorothea Evelyn (later Mathias)	15436	A.W Dalling, Brighton	1934	Not in Practice, Hove, 1935; ditto in 1938
43	Janes, Dorothy Maud (later Watts)	15832	Dudley R Wood/Charles H Clementon, Canterbury	1934	Not in Practice, 1935, Dartford ; ditto in 1940
43	Elder, Margaret Meikle (later Knox)	16772	J.L. Hutchinson, North Shields	1934	With T.E. Rowell, North Shields 1937; On own account, Claygate, Surrey 1959
43	Vaughan, Dorothea Mina B.A. (later Pyke)	17703	Geoffrey Rowley Bostock, EC	1934	Not in Practice, Baird & Tatlock in 1937; D.M Vaughan & Co (London & Edinburgh) in 1955
43	Sanderson, Naomi	16177	William Edwards Edmund Newman, Preston	1935	Not in Practice, The Incorporated Froebel Education Institute, 1937
49	Plant, Gladys Georgina (later Rowlings)	16441	Sidney Thomas Pevison, Wolverhampton	1935	Not in Practice in 1937, Bilston, Staffs; ditto 1938
49	Lund, Kathleen Annie Eva (later Robson)	17311	Robert J Crowe, Newcastle/ Douglas P Lund WC2	1935	With Pearson, Lund & Co in 1937; Not in Practice, Maidenhead in 1939; Solihull in 1955
49	Wathes, Janet Elizabeth Mary	17581	Eric Anthony Titley, Birmingham	1935	With H. H. Sherwood & Co, Birmingham in 1937; ditto in 1955
49	Barnholdt, Julia Britta (later Skeet)	17564	Alexis Jacob, Birmingham	1935	With Jacob, Cavenagh & Skeet, EC2 in 1937 and 1939; Totteridge in 1955.
49	East, Vera Francis (later Longhurst)	17592	William John Dowdell, EC3	1935	With John Baker & Sons, EC3 in 1937; John Baker, Sons & Bell in 1955
49	Kelly, Kathleen Mary	17186	Andrew Ednie, EC	1935	On own account SW7 in 1937; Cape Town South AFrica in 1955
49	Burton, Vera Mabel (later Bell)	16801	Albert Willmott, Biggleswade	1935	With Bell, Watts, Mcombie & Knowles, Bedford in 1937; Bell & Co in 1955
49	Todd, Judith Mary *	TBC	A.J. Adams, Manchester	1935	Not in practice, The Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR in 1939; Central Books Ltd in 1955

After the 1930 List of Members, the date of associateship no longer gave months. We have therefore assumed everybody who became associates did so on the same day.

* Todd was not in the first 101 articled clerks

One of the first 101 articled clerks passed her final exam but does not seem to become an ICAEW member. Marjorie Rodway Stephens (the 80th female articled clerk), daughter of Rodway Stephens FCA, passed her final in 1934 and at some point emigrated to Australia, where she died in 1988.

First female ACA outside of London: Mildred Emily Alys Pearce (Dorchester)

First Welsh female ACA: Kathleen May Paterson (Cardiff)

First female Chartered Accountants as employers

employer	articled clerk	article number	date of articles	ACA	notes
Smith, Mary Harris	Charlesworth, Eslie Margaret	11823	16/04/1923	N/A
Pearce, Mildred Edith Alys	Tyacke, Margerye Ruby Schofield	12663	10/06/1924	1930	Pearce took over when her father died
Watts, Ethel	Lauder, Kathleen Maureen	13549	08/07/1925	1931
Harris, Lynette Mary	Willey, Florence Jessie Louisa	16624	07/05/1929	1932	articles completed under Frank Stokes
Watts, Ethel	Whiting, Ida Muriel	17732	09/01/1930	N/A
Harris, Lynette Mary	Edwards, Joyce	17873	18/10/1930	1936
Beech, Betty Wooton	Lewis, Norah Ellen	18311	30/03/1931	1936
Beech, Betty Wooton	Stephany, Amalia Harriott	18413	27/05/1931	N/A	Beech took over from Carter Pegg

Mildred Pearce became the first female accountant to have a male articled clerk - Maurice Willelm Gulliford - but she died (1933, aged 54) before he completed his articles. He achieved 11th place in his Intermediate exams in May 1933, 4th certificate of Merit in his final examination in November 1935 and became an ACA in 1936.

First ten female Fellows of the ICAEW

	Name	ACA	FCA
1	Smith, Mary Harris	1920	1920
2	Watts, Ethel	1924	1930
3	Pearce, Mildred Ethel Alys	1925	1932
4	Harris, Lynette Mary	1927	1937
5	Baird, Dorothea Evelyn	1934	1940
6	Burton, Vera Mabel	1935	1941
6	Pike, Margaret Wentworth	1936	1941
7	Hamlyn, Dora Noleine	1928	1942
7	Collings, Christine May	1929	1942
7	Pearce, Margaret Emily	1931	1942
7	Miller, Dorothy Helen	1936	1942

Notes and points of interest

Of the first 101 (the number that 3 whole volumes of the Register of Articles covers) articled clerks:

• 66 went on to become ACAs. 
• 11 were employed by a man with the same surname (most likely their father). 
• Outside of London, Birmingham had the most articled clerks (6), followed by Dorchester (3).
• 5 employers died during a women's articles.
• 3 of the first 50 female members worked for Mars Confectionery in Slough
• 5 female articled clerks passed their final exams, but have as yet not been identified in the List of Members due to possible change of name.

All the articled clerks were unmarried, apart from one. Elizabeth Margaret Acland (the 11th female ACA) was a widow, but later remarried Herbert G Evans, also a Chartered Accountant. He was a decorated soldier in WW1. He went on to employ Elisabeth's sister, Gwyneth Sybil Acland (later Emerson, ACA 1941, FCA 1949) as an articled clerk in 1938.

Anne Elizabeth Dickson (the 15th female articled clerk) was articled to Lawrence Robert Dicksee, who is considered to be 'the father of modern accounting'.

Ruby Dimes (the 8th female ACA) was articled to Percy Stanley Sykes who was decorated in both WW1 and WW2

Edna Acton Herring-Shaw (48th female articled clerk) did not qualify as she died in 1928, aged 24. She had passed the Preliminary exam in May 1924.

Beryl Mae Marsh, the 72nd female articled clerk (55th female ACA) took 8 years to finish her training, due to two bouts of illness and the death of her employer, Harry Hackett.

Margaret Tyacke (23rd female ACA) was articled to Thomas Pearce and when he died his daughter Mildred Pearce took over as employer. Tyacke later married Pearce's partner Francis Clayton in 1940.

Dorothea Vaughan (43rd female ACA) married scientist Magnus Pike in 1937, but continued to practice under her maiden name.

The sources of information used for this page are the ICAEW Register of Articles, stored in the ICAEW archive at the London Archives; various editions of the ICAEW Directory of Members; ICAEW exam results published in The Accountant; and various family history resources such as the 1921 Census of England & Wales and the 1939 Register of England and Wales.

The order of lists may change in the future if new information comes to light, particularly with regard to married names.