Margaret Senior

Margaret Senior
OAM
Born1917
London, England
Died25 January 1995(1995-01-25) (aged 77–78)
Sydney, New South Wales
CitizenshipAustralian
Occupationlllustrator
AwardsChildren's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers 1952

Margaret Senior OAM (1917 – 25 January 1995)[1] was an English/Australian Natural History, Wildlife and Children's Book Illustrator. She contributed to a significant portion of early Illustration of Australia's exploration of rich natural Fauna and Flora. Her works are held in the collections of New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Orange Scientific Collections Unit[2] and The University of Newcastle Special Collections Archives.[3] She created numerous Illustrated posters and Botanical Plates for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Her illustrations were heavily used by parks and Wildlife, including Bushfire prevention posters.[citation needed]

Growing up in London Senior moved to Australia in the 1940's. She left a bequest of $50,000 gift left to the University of Newcastle. Known for its Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) established in 2003. This was up until the Bachelor of Natural History Illustration its disestablishment in 2019.[4] Senior also left the copyright of her published work to the University, including a large number of her original artworks. She contributed $10,000 during her lifetime to the Margaret Senior Wildlife Illustration Award for one excellent graduating student each year.

Senior was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to wildlife conservation.[5]

Illustrated books

Senior illustrated numerous books during her career. Most notably 'The Australia Book' which won the 1952 Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers.[6]

Year Title Author Illustrator Publisher
1950 Little Brown Piccaninnies of Tasmania[7] Jane Ada Fletcher Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd.
1950 The story of Kurri Kurri the Kookaburra[8] Leslie Rees AM Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd.
1951 Two-Thumbs : the story of a koala Leslie Rees AM Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd.
1952 The Australia Book Eve Pownall Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd.
1952 Bush Haven Animals: An Australian picture story[9][10] Margaret Senior Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd.
1955 Cousins-come-lately: adventures in old Sydney town[11] Eve Pownall Margaret Senior Shakespeare Head Press
1955 John of the Sirius[12] Doris Chadwick Margaret Senior Thomas Nelson and Sons
1957 The story of Koonaworra the black Swan[13] Leslie Rees AM Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd.
1958 Snow boy[14] Noreen Shelley Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd
1962 Plants without Flowers[15] Thistle Y. Harris Margaret Senior Longmans
1962 John and Nanbaree[16] Doris Chadwick Margaret Senior Thomas Nelson
1967 Henry Lawson[17] Ken Levis Margaret Senior Longmans
1967 Larry : the story of an Australian seagull[18] Ina Watson Margaret Senior John Sands Ltd
1977 A field guide to the common sea & estuary fishes of non-tropical Australia[19] James Nils Thomson Margaret Senior Collins
1985 Two at Sullivan Bay[20][21] Nance Donkin Margaret Senior Roo Books
1985 Nunga[22] Rus Center Margaret Senior Kangaroo Press
1987 Australia's animals[23] Margaret Senior Margaret Senior Kangaroo Press

References

  1. ^ "Margaret Senior". AustLit: Discover Australian Stories. Retrieved 2022-08-16.
  2. ^ Department of Primary Industries (16 August 2022). "Plant Disease Illustrations". Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  3. ^ Margaret Senior Archives Living Histories, accessed 16 August 2022, https://livinghistories.newcastle.edu.au/nodes/view/72938
  4. ^ Gregory, Helen (2022). "It's history: University of Newcastle dumps natural illustration degree". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Mrs Margaret SENIOR". It's An Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Children's book of the Year: An Australian Classic?". Sydney: The Sunday Herald. 1952 [Sun 10 August 1952] – via TROVE.
  7. ^ Fletcher, Jane. and Senior, Margaret.  Little brown piccaninnies of Tasmania / by Jane Ada Fletcher ; illustrated by Margaret Senior  John Sands Sydney  1950. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2234359
  8. ^ Rees, Leslie. and Senior, Margaret.  The story of Kurri Kurri the Kookaburra / written by Leslie Rees ; illustrated by Margaret Senior  John Sands [Sydney]  1950. https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/715794
  9. ^ Muir, Marcie (1970). A bibliography of Australian children's books, 6650. London: Grafton Book. ISBN 0233960570.
  10. ^ Senior, Margaret.  (1954).  Bush haven animals : an Australian picture story.  Sydney :  John Sands
  11. ^ Pownall, Eve. and Senior, Margaret.  Cousins-come-lately : adventures in old Sydney town / by Eve Pownall ; illustrated by Margaret Senior  Shakespeare Head Press Sydney  1955
  12. ^ Chadwick, Doris (1955). John of the Sirius. London: Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781922348074.
  13. ^ Rees, Leslie. and Senior, Margaret.  The story of Koonaworra the black swan / written by Leslie Rees ; illustrated by Margaret Senior  John Sands Sydney  1957
  14. ^ Shelley, Noreen (1958). Snow boy. Sydney: John Sands.
  15. ^ Harris, Thistle Y. and Senior, Margaret.  Plants without flowers / by Thistle Y. Harris ; Illustrated by Margaret Senior  Longmans Croydon, Vic  1967
  16. ^ Chadwick, Doris (1962). John and Nanbaree. London: Thomas Nelson.
  17. ^ Levis, Ken. and Senior, Margaret.  Henry Lawson / by K. Levis ; illustrated by Margaret Senior  Longmans Croydon, Vic  1967
  18. ^ Watson, Ina. and Senior, Margaret.  Larry : the story of an Australian seagull / by Ina Watson ; illustrated by Margaret Senior  John Sands Sydney  1967
  19. ^ Thomson, James Miln (1977). A field guide to the common sea & estuary fishes of non-tropical Australia. Sydney: Collins. ISBN 0002192713.
  20. ^ Nance, Donkin (1985). Two at Sullivan Bay. Kenthurst (NSW): Roo Books. ISBN 0864170254.
  21. ^ White, K. Bibliography of Australian children's books, v. 2,
  22. ^ Center, Rus (1985). Nunga. Kenthurst (NSW): Kangaroo Press. ISBN 086417019X.
  23. ^ Senior, Margaret (1987). Australia's Animals. Kenthurst (NSW): Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0864171692.