Emily North

Emily North

Mrs Emily North devoted much of her life to social causes in Dunedin and the wider Otago region. She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union of the Baptist Church, and at one point was Dominion and provincial president. Her involvement with the group stemmed from when she and her husband Charles North – a doctor – lived in India where they promoted the work of the Baptist mission. During the First World War, Emily was closely involved with the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association and the ladies’ auxiliary of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). She spent many hours organising fundraising events for both causes and also canvassed the city for contributions to the Belgian Relief Fund. Emily received the Médaille de la Reine Elisabeth (Queen Elisabeth Medal) in recognition of her fundraising efforts for Belgium. 

Family information

Parents: James Wiseman and Janet (or Jessie) Wiseman (née Kincaid)
Born: 1875
Died: 27 October 1937, aged 62
Buried: Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, Block 94, Plot 3A
Married: Charles North (in Calcutta, circa 1901)

Children (four sons and one daughter):

  • Rev. L. A. North
  • H. A. C. North (?)
  • Rev. J. J. North (?)
  • Warwick Graeme North, b. 1912
  • Jocelyn Agnes Heritage North, b. circa 1914

Active in: Dunedin

Obituary/death notice

MRS CHARLES NORTH - The death has occurred suddenly at Dunedin of Mrs North, wife of Dr. Charles North, and mother of the Rev. L. A. North, of Christchurch. She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union of the Baptist Church, of which she had been Dominion and provincial president, her knowledge of the work being based on personal experience after many years in Chandpur, Bengal, where Dr. North had built up the medical work of that mission. One of her chief interests of recent years was the League of Mothers, of which she was the first provincial president, as well as being president of the Dunedin branch. During her term of office she visited many places and formed new branches in various country centres. Mrs North was gifted with many rare qualities. Her charm of personality and wide sympathies made her home a centre of love and hospitality, especially to strangers and students, while her keen executive ability and broad vision made her a valued member of the many activities in which she was engaged.

'Obituary', Press, 2 November 1937, p. 2

Selected sources

'The War', Otago Daily Times, 7 May 1915, p. 3

'The War', Otago Daily Times, 11 June 1915, p. 8

'The Otago Patriotic Fund', Otago Daily Times, 14 February 1916, p. 2

'The Otago Patriotic Fund', Otago Daily Times, 4 May 1916, p. 6

'The Otago Patriotic Fund', Otago Daily Times, 28 August 1916, p. 5

'N.Z. Baptist Union', Otago Daily Times, 13 October 1916, p. 7

'The Otago Patriotic Fund', Otago Daily Times, 5 December 1916, p. 6

'The Otago Patriotic Fund', Otago Daily Times, 2 March 1917, p. 3

'Sale of Work', Otago Daily Times, 14 November 1917, p. 3

'Phases of War Work', Otago Daily Times, 6 December 1917, p. 2

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