suffrage_petition
Surname: 
Marchant
Given names: 
E A.
Given address: 
50 The Terrace Wellington
Sheet No: 208
Town/Suburb: 
Central Wellington
City/Region: 
Wellington
Notes: 

Biographical information provided by Briar Barry for the He Tohu exhibition:

Despite the fact that the initials do not match her Christian name, I believe that this signature belongs to Maria Elise Allman Marchant. At school in Wellington Maria Marchant was known as Ella. She was dux of Wellington Girls’ High School in 1887 before progressing to a career in teaching.

At the time she signed the Petition Ella was teaching full-time at Wellington Girls' High School and also studying extramurally through Canterbury College. She graduated with a BA in 1892 and a MA in 1894.

In 1895 Ella, now known as Maria, was appointed lady principal of Otago Girls' High School where she remained for 16 years. After retiring from OGHS, Maria travelled to England several times and founded two schools and a hostel for women students.

Maria was acting headmistress of St John’s Girls’ School in Invercargill when she died suddenly of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1919. She had just turned 50 and was about to return to Dunedin to establish a religious community and teaching order she had been planning for many years.  

More information about Maria Elise Marchant is available on her Te Ara bio

Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.

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