Evelyn Emma Stefanos Procter, FRHistS (6 June 1897 – 22 March 1980) was a British historian and academic. She served as principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford, from 1946 to 1962.
Procter was born on 6 June 1897 in Hunton Bridge, Hertfordshire.[1] She was educated at two all girls private schools; Corran School for Girls in Watford and Cheltenham Ladies' College in Cheltenham.[2] In 1915, she went to Somerville College, Oxford, as a commoner to study modern history.[2] Her college tutors were Margaret Hayes Robinson and Florence O'Loughlin.[1] During her time at the University of Oxford, she was awarded a blue for lacrosse.[2] In 1918, she graduated with a distinguished first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.[1][2]
Procter began her academic career as a teacher at Saint Felix School, Southwold.[1] She spent the first two years after graduating teaching.[2]
In 1921, Procter was elected Mary Somerville Research Fellow at Somerville College, Oxford.[2] She undertook research on the medieval history of Spain, including visits in 1922 to the archives in Madrid, Barcelona, Pamplona, and Lisbon.[1] She was the first female scholar to be admitted to the National Historical Archive of Spain and the Biblioteca Nacional de España.[1]
In 1925, Procter was appointed a tutor in history at St Hugh's College, Oxford, and was elected a fellow the following year.[2][3] From 1933 to 1939, she was a university lecturer in medieval European history.[3] In 1936, to mark 50 years since St Hugh's College, Oxford was founded, a "Group Portrait" was painted of Evelyn Procter, Edith Wardale, English Language Tutor; Elizabeth Francis, French Tutor; Barbara Gwyer, the then Principal; and Cecilia Ady, History Tutor by Henry Lamb.[4]
In 1946, she was elected Principal of St Hugh's College in succession to Barbara Gwyer.[2] She was invited to deliver the Norman MacColl lectures at the University of Cambridge in the academic year 1948 to 1949.[3] In 1951, she published these lectures as a monograph titled Alfonso X of Castile, Patron of Literature and Learning.[1] She also acted as a supervisor for a number of postgraduates. These included Derek Lomax who became Professor of Spanish at Birmingham University, and Richard Fletcher who became Professor of History at the University of York.[1]
Procter retired in 1962.[2]
Following her retirement in 1962, Procter was elected an Honorary Fellow of St Hugh's College, Oxford, which allowed her to keep in close contact with her former college.[2]
In retirement, Procter lived in Eynsham, Oxford.[3] She died on 22 March 1980, aged 82.[3]
Proctor had been elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS).[2] She was appointed Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur in honour of her role in the foundation of the Maison Française d'Oxford.[1]