Women naturalists in Tūhura Otago Museum, Dunedin

Abstract

Historical studies on naturalists who contributed their expertise to Tūhura Otago Museum, are few and invariably deal with men. The roles that women played in the formation of its collections in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries are uncovered. The paucity of information in the handwritten museum registers and archive is supplemented to a small extent by newsprint and annual reports. Women’s expertise included field collecting and academic studies. Donations arose because of changing family circumstances or through friendships with the male curators. A few businesswomen also featured. The career of Lily Daff, the museum’s first female appointment, is described as she rose to become chief designer.