Richmond, Mary Elizabeth (1853–1949)
Richmond, Mary Elizabeth (1853–1949)
New Zealand teacher and writer. Born Aug 30, 1853, at New Plymouth, New Zealand; died on July 3, 1949, in Wellington; dau. of Christopher William Richmond (lawyer) and Emily Elizabeth (Atkinson) Richmond.
Active in Forward Movement, which tried to match contemporary societal conditions with Christianity; taught at Wellington Girls' High School (1884–90); trained at Froebel Institute in London, and opened private school in Wellington for children from kindergarten to preparatory level (1886); founded free kindergarten movement in Wellington (1905); also active in League of Mothers, New Zealand Society for Protection of Women and Children, and Women's Social Progress Movement; returned to England and joined Kensington Society for Female Suffrage (c. 1913); published articles and sermons, and vol. of children's songs and stories, Bindy Ballads (1924). Commander of the British Empire (1949).
See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).