Elfrida Saunders
Octavia Elfrida Saunders (born 18 October, 1885) was a British academic and one of the first women to achieve a lectureship at the University of St Andrews where she lectured in German. Saunders published under the name O. Elfrida Saunders. Biography. Saunders was born in London to Herbert Clifford Saunders and Octavia Saunders (née Grimston). Her father was a barrister and was appointed to the Queen's Counsel in 1881. She was the youngest of 9 children. Her siblings included Una "Mary", Maude, Herbert "Stewart", Rose, Grace, Violet, Florence "Muriel", and Cicell Saunders. Saunders lectured at the University  of St Andrews in 1914 and 1915. In recognition of her fundamental study of English Manuscript Illumination and her donation of £4,000 to the university's Department of Art History to further the teaching and studying of art history the department hosts an eponymous lecture series in her honour. Between 1930 and 1933, Saunders was a member of The Walpole Society, whose purpose is to study the history of British Art. Publications. Reviews. Her publications have been reviewed in "The American Magazine of Art"", The Burlington Magazine for Connoisseurs"", Parnassus""," and "The Antiquaries Journal" among others. Mentions. Saunder's  publication "English Illumination" has been discussed in the body of several journal articles over the years including but not limited to: