author
Kate McCosh Clark
1847–1926
A lively early New Zealand writer and artist, she brought local landscapes and traditional stories into books for young readers. Her work also reflects a wider life in public service, charity, and women’s organizing.
1 Audiobook
A Southern Cross fairy tale
by Kate McCosh Clark
About the author
Born in Ipswich, England, in 1847, she later made her life in New Zealand and became known as a children's writer, poet, artist, and community worker. Reliable biographical sources describe her as Kate Emma McCosh Clark, née Woolnough, and note that she wrote and illustrated A Southern Cross Fairy Tale (1891), an early New Zealand children's book.
Her other well-known books include Persephone and Other Poems (1894) and Maori Tales and Legends (1896). Alongside her writing, she was active in Auckland society and in charitable and civic work; New Zealand biographical sources also connect her with the National Council of Women of New Zealand.
She died in 1926. While sources confirm her importance as an author and public figure, I could not confirm a suitable clear portrait image from the pages reviewed, so no profile image is included here.