Spence, Catherine Helen, 1825-1910

C. H. Spence, 1825-1910, writer and reformer, migrated with her family to South Australia in 1839. She wrote 5 novels, 1854-1868, and social and political newspaper articles, 1865-1907. She advocated an electoral system of proportional representation called the Hare-Spence system, published books and pamphlets and spoke on this and other topics, 1891-1910. She was a delegate to an international conference on charity in the United States of America, 1893, and involved in various charitable organizations in South Australia mainly connected with children.

From the description of Papers [manuscript]. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 225766003

First Australian woman novelist, born Scotland 31.10.1825. Her father migrated to South Australia in 1839 and settled near Adelaide. At 17 years of age she became a governess and was a teacher for some years. She took an interest in public affairs and later became a social worker, journalist and a lecturer, active on behalf of the cause of destitute children, proportional representation, women's suffrage and the beginning of Australian unionism. The subordination of her creative writings to various aspects of reform accounts for her small output of imaginative work.

From the description of Hand fasted [manuscript]. [1984] (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 225827520

Epithet: novelist

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001392.0x000396