Oxford recognises Annie Cannon’s ‘invaluable contribution to astronomy’ – archive, 2 July 1925

2 July 1925: The eminent astronomer from Harvard Observatory is conferred an honorary doctor of science degree

The long double file of scarlet-robed doctors which processed," at this year's brilliant Commemoration at Oxford, from Wadham, the vice-chancellor's College, to the Sheldonian Theatre was, from the feminist's point of view, less interesting from its inclusion of the prime minister, the chancellor of the exchequer, Lord Jellicoe, and the archbishop of Canterbury, than from the unique event that it contained a woman.

Miss Annie Cannon, the eminent astronomer from Harvard Observatory, on whom, on June 10, Oxford conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree, walked in procession with her host, Professor Turner, Oxford's Savilian professor of astronomy, and the crowd which had come out to look at the prime minister found its sensation instead in this startling precedent of a woman in a procession consecrated to academic masculinity and distinguished male" service.