Margery Fry (1874-1958) was appointed the first warden of University House, the first all female halls of residence in Britain, in 1904. She was one of the first women governers of the King Edwards School Foundation and was on Birmingham University council. Following this, she went on to be a renowned prison reformer, noted for her work with the Howard League of Penal Reform. She was one of the first women in Britain to become a magistrate. Her brother was the artist Roger Fry (1866-1934), who coined the term ‘Post-Impressionism’. The University owns 7 of Roger Fry’s paintings.
Charles Haslewood Shannon was a British artist and member of the Royal Academy. Several examples of his portraiture can be seen in the National Portrait Gallery. This drawing is signed with a monogram.