Pattie Fotheringhame

Pattie Fotheringhame, née Lewis (c. 1864 – 1955), commonly referred to as Mrs J. Fotheringhame, was a journalist in Sydney, Australia, who wrote for The Bulletin as "Mab". She has been described as Sydney's first woman journalist.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] She sold the title to Hollander and Govett after 13 years, but stayed on as editor. Mary Grant Bruce contributed Melbourne social news.[2] The paper, which at some stage began fortnightly publication, closed in 1917 due to wartime shortages.[6]

In March 1918 she began working for a new magazine, Ladies' Sphere.[7]

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.[8]

Family

Pattie Lewis married Commander James Fotheringhame, R.N.R. (1856 – 3 April 1935) on 8 September 1886.[9] He was eldest son of Ralph Fotheringhame, of Lynnfield House, Kirkwall, Orkney. Their children included:

  • Ralph Gilderoy Hepburn Fotheringhame (11 October 1890[10] – 25 May 1960)[11] married Marcia Broadhurst on 28 February 1915[12]
  • Mab Traill Fotheringhame (15 August 1887[13] – 1 May 1961) married Reg M. Harrison c. 1912.

They had a home "Cliffside", at Watsons Bay, Sydney[14] and later at "Mohaka", 68 Louisa Road, Long Nose Point, Sydney

Her sisters included Susanna Ascot Lewis (died 18 June 1920);[15] 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.[16]

References
  1. "The Australian Women's Register: Fotheringhame, Pattie (c. 1852 - 1955)". The University of Melbourne and The National Foundation for Australian Women. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  2. "Half a Century of Journalism". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 18, 293. Queensland, Australia. 24 July 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 12 October 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "Purely Personal". Free Lance (Melbourne newspaper). Vol. 1, no. 23. Victoria, Australia. 26 September 1896. p. 10. Retrieved 16 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "News and Notes". Morwell Advertiser. No. 1283. Victoria, Australia. 14 October 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ""Splashes"". The Sydney Stock and Station Journal. Vol. XIV, no. 45. New South Wales, Australia. 9 September 1902. p. 8. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Gossip from Sydney". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 13, 833. Queensland, Australia. 24 March 1917. p. 14. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Home and Society". The Sunday Times (Sydney). No. 1677. New South Wales, Australia. 10 March 1918. p. 18. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Mainly about People". The Newsletter: An Australian Paper for Australian People. Vol. 8, no. 29. New South Wales, Australia. 15 April 1905. p. 9. Retrieved 15 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Social". The Daily Telegraph. No. 2233. New South Wales, Australia. 11 September 1886. p. 9. Retrieved 18 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Family Notices". The Australian Star. No. 894. New South Wales, Australia. 15 October 1890. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "IN the Supreme Court of New South Wales.—Probate Jurisdiction.—Re will of RALPH GILDEROY HEPBURN". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 126. New South Wales, Australia. 28 October 1960. p. 3450. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "An Idle Woman's Diary". National Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. 5 March 1915. p. 1. Retrieved 17 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Family Notices". Sydney Morning Herald. No. 15, 411. New South Wales, Australia. 17 August 1887. p. 1. Retrieved 20 March 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "Family Notices". The Daily Telegraph. No. 4732. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 15 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "Family Notices". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 16, 540. New South Wales, Australia. 19 June 1920. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "The Early Days". Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 343. New South Wales, Australia. 4 April 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 16 February 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
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