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Foundation

Dunfermline College of Physical Education was founded on 4 October 1905 as Dunfermline College of Hygiene and Physical Training, following the Report of the Royal Commission on Physical Training in Scotland published two years previously in 1903. Funding for the college was provided by Andrew Carnegie, who had established a trust to promote the physical wellbeing of the children of his home town of Dunfermline. The college's first principal was Flora Ogston, daughter of Sir Alexander Ogston, Regius Professor of Surgery, University of Aberdeen, who had trained at Chelsea College of Physical Education from 1901 - 1903.

Teaching at the College focused on theoretical and practical aspects of physical education, and included human anatomy and physiology, Ling’s Swedish system of gymnastics, remedial massage and, perhaps surprisingly, singing and voice production.

Ordinary Diplomas and Diplomas with Honours were awarded to students who completed the college's two year course. The course included theoretical and practical aspects of physical education, anatomy and physiology, Ling’s Swedish gymnastics, remedial massage and voice production. Holders of the Diploma were recognised as qualified teachers of Physical Education on condition that they had also undertaken the necessary teaching training.

Although it was established as a women's college, in 1908 men were also admitted to the college. In 1909 the college was recognised by the Scottish Education Department as a "central institution for the for the purpose of the Education (Scotland) Act of 1908", which meant it became the central training institution for all school medical officers throughout Scotland.

When it was founded, the college had one gymnasium located at Canmore Street Baths in Dunfermline. In 1909 a new college building was designed by David Barclay of Glasgow architect firm, H & D Barclay. The foundation stone was laid at Inglis Street, Dunfermline, in 1912, with the new building opening in 1914. At this point the college was renamed Dunfermline College of Hygiene and Physical Education.

In 1931 the National Committee for the Training of Teachers established a management committee to oversee the management of the college. As a result of pressure on college resources and increased demand for male physical education teachers, male students were transferred to the new Scottish School of Physical Education, at Jordanhill College in Glasgow in 1931, and DCHPE reverted to training women only.

From 1939-46 the college temporarily moved to the Teachers' Training College in Aberdeen, as its buildings in Dunfermline were requisitioned by the Royal Navy during World War II.

Aberdeen
By 1950 the college had outgrown its site in Dunfermline so it transferred to Woolmanhill in Aberdeen, and changed its name to Dunfermline College of Physical Education, Aberdeen. As the college was no longer located in Dunfermline, the Carnegie Dunfermline Trust ended its connection with the institution.

Reputation and Culture
Since it's foundation, Dunfermline College was regarded as a national institution for teacher training, with students of a "distinctly better class in society than the ordinary teacher". Teaching physical education came to be regarded as a respectable career for women, with PE colleges attracting talented sportswomen and nurturing refined manners, poise and deportment. Ethel Adair, principal of the college 1906 - 1907, promoted "the Dunfermline mark" of decorum and respectable social standards. Dunfermline attracted sporting internationalists, as PE teaching was regarded as the occupation of choice at a time when it was difficult to make a living as a sportsperson.

The college operated a "mother and daughter" support system, with new first year students, the daughters, being nurtured by second year mothers. Each year group was known as a set. A commemorative year book was published for each set on the year of their graduation.

Uniform
Uniform was strictly adhered to, with students being required to wear different uniforms for different sports and subjects. From 1905, for gymnastics and dance, students wore a heavy navy pinafore with square velvet yoke and blue cotton blouse, for hockey the tunic was replaced by a grey tweed skirt, hostel wear was a pinafore dress with thin flannel shirt. By the 1950's the navy pinafore had been replaced by a royal blue romper suit which allowed more freedom of movement. Grey shorts and blue aertex blouses were worn for games, and black leotards and striped skirts for dance. The college cloak was dark green with a purple lining.

The college brooch, awarded to students on graduation, features a spider and a lion rampant and bears the motto "Efforts are Successes" and the founding date of the college. In 1669 the college was granted Armorial Bearings of a shield featuring a tower representing the cities of Dunfermline, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, a leaping stag, representing flight and grace and lightning bolts, which symbolise movement and are also part of the Carnegie family crest.

Dunfermline College Old Students Association
Dunfermline College Old Students Association was founded in 1912 and is still extant. Its aim is to keep members in touch with each other and provide updates on the college and developments in physical education and teacher training. All former students of the college and graduates of the Bachelor of Education degree in PE from the Scottish Centre for Physical Education, Movement and Leisure Studies are eligible to join. The Association publishes an annual report and Set News Magazine, and organises regular reunions.

Archive
Archives of the college are held by the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Research Collections and University of Aberdeen Special Collections. In 2019, Body Language, a Wellcome Trust funded archive exhibition at University of Edinburgh Library explored the archives of Dunfermline College of Physical Education, Scottish Gymnastics, and choreographer and dance teacher Margaret Morris.