Teresa Merz (28 May 1879 – 12 November 1958) was an English social worker, philanthropist and magistrate.

Early life

Merz was born in

Gateshead Gateshead () is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, ...

. She was the third child, and only daughter, of industrial chemist John Theodore Merz (a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

from Germany) and Alice Mary Richardson, a sister of John Wigham Richardson, the Tyneside ship builder. Merz grew up in

Newcastle Newcastle usually refers to: *Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom *Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...

's West End. In 1896 she studied at

Durham College of Science The Colleges of Durham University are residential colleges that are the primary source of accommodation and support services for undergraduates and postgraduates at Durham University, as well as providing a focus for social, cultural and sportin ...

in Newcastle. In 1903 Merz won the Gladstone Prize for an essay on early Whig politicians; this work was later published as ''The Junto.'' In October 1904 Merz was admitted to

Newnham College Newnham College is a women's constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1871 by a group organising Lectures for Ladies, members of which included philosopher Henry Sidgwick and suffragist campaigner Millicen ...

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

, where she studied philosophy, history and economics for one year.

Career

After leaving Newnham, Merz worked with the

Charity Organisation Society The Charity Organisation Societies were founded in England in 1869 following the ' Goschen Minute' that sought to severely restrict outdoor relief distributed by the Poor Law Guardians along the lines of the Elberfeld system. In the early 1870s, ...

in Newcastle and was later appointed its secretary. In June 1914 Merz helped to organise a national conference, which brought together 400 delegates from different welfare organisations. Merz was involved in the women's suffrage movement and in June 1911 she took part in the Women’s Suffrage coronation procession. In 1912 Merz opened Hope House in Newcastle. This lodging house provided accommodation for 11 women and girls.

First World War

During the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Merz helped to establish Newcastle's local war relief fund. Merz also helped to run a nursery in the West End of Newcastle for babies whose mothers worked in local factories. In December 1916, Merz joined a group of local Quakers in signing a notice in the Newcastle Journal which called for a negotiated peace. Merz spent part of the war in

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

where she provided relief work. She was later awarded the Medal of Merit by the Crown Prince of Serbia.

Inter-war years

In 1920 Merz left the Quaker movement and joined the Church of England. In 1921 Merz was appointed as a magistrate and would become the second longest-serving magistrate in the Newcastle. Merz helped to open The Boys’ Migration Hostel in Newcastle. The hostel opened in June 1927 and aimed to prepare young men for farm work in the Dominions. The following year Merz was awarded an

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

for her involvement in the Hostel. In 1928 Merz opened a second hostel which trained spinsters and childless widows, aged 18 to 35, in domestic work with a view to sending them to the Dominions. In 1929 Merz helped to establish the Tyneside Council of Social Services and served as its first Vice President. In 1934 the Council established a women’s section which was chaired by Merz. This group organised social activities and "make and mend" classes in women's clubs. In 1933 Merz converted the family home into a residential nursery for illegitimate babies and toddlers. In September 1939 the staff and children were evacuated to a family property, Heugh Folds, in Grasmere. A month later, Merz wrote to the ''Newcastle Evening Chronicle'' and encouraged other mothers to evacuate their children to the Lake District.

Death

Merz died at home on 12 November 1958. She had continued to work until two days before her death.

Publications

* ''The Junto''. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Andrew Reid and Company, Ltd. 1907.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Merz, Teresa People from Gateshead Alumni of Newnham College, Cambridge British women in World War I 1879 births 1958 deaths British Quakers English justices of the peace