Margaret Matilda White

Margaret Matilda White (9 January 1868 – 6 July 1910) was a New Zealand photographer and nurse. Her best known works are photographs she took at the Auckland Mental Hospital. A collection of her glass plates is held by the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Margaret Matilda White
Born(1868-01-09)9 January 1868
Died6 July 1910(1910-07-06) (aged 42)
Waihi, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Known forPhotography
SpouseAlbert Reed

Biography edit

White was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and emigrated to New Zealand with her family in 1886.[1][2] From 1890 she worked with New Zealand photographer John Hanna in his studio.[2] She later established her own photographic studio in Newton, Auckland.[3] However this venture was not a success and she was forced to close her business.[1] Despite this failure she continued to take photographs up until her death.[4] After the closure of her studio she worked as a nurse at the Auckland Mental Hospital in Avondale.[5] It was while working there that she took a series of photographs for which she is best known.[6]

She died at Waihi hospital on 6 July 1910. Auckland War Memorial Museum holds a large collection of White's photographic glass plates.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "White, Margaret Matilda". findnzartists.org.nz. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Margaret Matilda White". aucklandmuseum.com. Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  3. ^ Maxwell, Anne (1998). "Theorizing settler identities". In Dale, Leigh; Ryan, Simon (eds.). The Body in the library. Amsterdam: Rodopi. p. 133. ISBN 9042007532. OCLC 40805559.
  4. ^ Brookes, Barbara Lesley (2016). A history of New Zealand women. Wellington, New Zealand: Bridget Williams Books. p. 165. ISBN 9780908321452. OCLC 936372906.
  5. ^ Darian-Smith, Kate; Edmonds, Penelope, eds. (2015). Conciliation on colonial frontiers : conflict, performance, and commemoration in Australia and the Pacific Rim. New York: Routledge. p. 213. ISBN 9781317800064. OCLC 903488817.
  6. ^ "Highlights - Margaret Matilda White". AucklandMuseum.com. Retrieved 23 September 2018.