Pattie Fotheringhame Explained

Pattie Fotheringhame
Birth Name:Pattie Lewis
Birth Date:1852
Birth Place:Yorkshire, England
Death Date:1955
Death Place:Sydney, New South Wales
Occupation:Editor and journalist
Language:English
Nationality:Australian
Years Active:1898-1926

Pattie Fotheringhame, née Lewis (– 1955), commonly referred to as Mrs J. Fotheringhame, was a journalist in Sydney, Australia,[1] who wrote for The Bulletin as "Mab". She has been described as Sydney's first woman journalist.[2]

History

Fotheringhame was a daughter of James Lewis (–) and Mary Ann Lewis (c. 1819 – 23 August 1894) of Escrick Park, near York, England.

She began her writing career with children's stories for the Sydney Mail, and was invited to join the staff of that paper, but accepted a counter-offer by her brother-in-law William Henry Traill to join the Sydney Bulletin, of which he was editor and part-owner.Her first assignment, as an inexperienced 17 year old, was as founding editor of the "Women's Letter" society column, under the byline "Mab" in 1881, in competition with Mrs. Gullett's page in The Daily Telegraph.[3]

Working at the Bulletin brought her into contact with many of Australia's leading writers and artists: Henry Lawson, Harold "The Pilgrim" Grey, Victor Daley and George Augustus Sala.

She left journalism after marrying James Fotheringhame, introducing as her replacement the vivacious Ina Wildman who, writing as "Sappho Smith", had an illustrious career before dying of nephritis.[4]

Around 1891 she purchased the children's monthly magazine Young Australia from Louisa Lawson (mother of Henry Lawson), and ran it for 20 years with Josephine Fotheringhame, her sister-in-law, as editor. Farmers' and Settlers' Publishing Co., Ltd, purchased the title in 1910.[5]

Around 1900 she purchased another monthly publication of more universal appeal, Splashes, which she edited, and by 1902 was being praised for its content and production values.[6] She sold the title to Hollander and Govett after 13 years, but stayed on as editor. Mary Grant Bruce contributed Melbourne social news.[3] The paper, which at some stage began fortnightly publication, closed in 1917 due to wartime shortages.[7]

In March 1918 she began working for a new magazine, Ladies' Sphere.[8]

In 1925 the Society of Women Writers was formed and Florence Baverstock was the inaugural President. Her four vice-presidents who created the society were Fotheringhame, Mary Gilmore, Isobel Gullett and Mary Liddell and the aim was to encourage other women writers.[9]

Other interests

Fotheringhame, an amateur photographer, was given equipment for photo-engraving by her brother-in-law Traill, who brought it back from America. She was successful in creating high quality zinc printing blocks from photographic negatives, so has been recognised as Australia's pioneer of the process.[10]

Family

Pattie Lewis married Commander James Fotheringhame, R.N.R. (1856 – 3 April 1935) on 8 September 1886.[11] He was eldest son of Ralph Fotheringhame, of Lynnfield House, Kirkwall, Orkney. Their children included:

They had a home "Cliffside", at Watsons Bay, Sydney[16] and later at "Mohaka", 68 Louisa Road, Long Nose Point, Sydney

Her sisters included Susanna Ascot Lewis (died 18 June 1920);[17] Jessie Lewis (c. 1843–1867); and Agnes Lewis (c. 1855 – 17 May 1930), these last two being married to William Henry Traill. John Joseph Lewis, possibly (1860 – 22 October 1946) was a brother.

Her sister-in-law, Josephine Fotheringham (c. 1854 – 13 September 1945), who was born in Orkney, wrote articles for Chambers' Journal.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Austlit — Pattie Fotheringhame . Austlit. 12 June 2024.
  2. Web site: The Australian Women's Register: Fotheringhame, Pattie (c. 1852 - 1955). The University of Melbourne and The National Foundation for Australian Women . 17 February 2021.
  3. News: Half a Century of Journalism . . 18,293 . Queensland, Australia . 24 July 1931 . 12 October 2020 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Purely Personal . . 1 . 23 . Victoria, Australia . 26 September 1896 . 16 February 2021 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: News and Notes . . 1283 . Victoria, Australia . 14 October 1910 . 17 February 2021 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: "Splashes" . . XIV . 45 . New South Wales, Australia . 9 September 1902 . 17 February 2021 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Gossip from Sydney . . 13,833 . Queensland, Australia . 24 March 1917 . 17 February 2021 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Home and Society . . 1677 . New South Wales, Australia . 10 March 1918 . 17 February 2021 . 18 . National Library of Australia.
  9. Web site: The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. About SWW . 2024-06-07 . The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. . en-gb.
  10. News: Mainly about People . . 8 . 29 . New South Wales, Australia . 15 April 1905 . 15 February 2021 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: 11 September 1886. Social. 9. The Daily Telegraph. 2233. New South Wales, Australia. 18 February 2021. National Library of Australia.
  12. News: 15 October 1890. Family Notices. 1. The Australian Star. 894. New South Wales, Australia. 18 February 2021. National Library of Australia.
  13. News: 28 October 1960. IN the Supreme Court of New South Wales.—Probate Jurisdiction.—Re will of RALPH GILDEROY HEPBURN. 3450. Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 126. New South Wales, Australia. 20 March 2021. National Library of Australia.
  14. News: An Idle Woman's Diary . . New South Wales, Australia . 5 March 1915 . 17 February 2021 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: 17 August 1887. Family Notices. 1. Sydney Morning Herald. 15,411. New South Wales, Australia. 20 March 2021. National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Family Notices . . 4732 . New South Wales, Australia . 24 August 1894 . 15 February 2021 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Family Notices . . 16,540 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 June 1920 . 15 February 2021 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: The Early Days . . 30,343 . New South Wales, Australia . 4 April 1935 . 16 February 2021 . 12 . National Library of Australia.