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Elizabeth Maude Herriott at Cass Field Station
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TitleElizabeth Maude Herriott at Cass Field Station
DescriptionBotanist Elizabeth Herriott at Cass Field Station, holding a spade.
Botanist Elizabeth Maude Herriott (1882-1936) was the first woman employed by the University of Canterbury (then Canterbury College) on their teaching staff. Her Irish father David (1850-1928) was a Christchurch grocer whose shop was at 323 and 325 Bealey Ave, and her mother was Eliza Susanna Herriott (1858-1934). Her siblings were grocer Percy David Herriott(1895-1980), Irene Herriott (later Lamb) (1895-1980), Elsie Mary Herriott (1893-1932) and Winifred Herriot, known as Winnie (1883-1901).
In 1905 Elizabeth completed her Masters thesis about 'the anatomical leaf structure of plants from New Zealand’s sub-antarctic islands', then becoming a schoolteacher at both Rangi Ruru and Kaikōura District High Schools. WW1 opened up positions for women in science and she was employed in 1916 as an assistant biology lecturer at Canterbury College. She undertook research into tadpole shrimps, and published important scientific papers on great brown kelp and the botanical history of Hagley Park in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
She was promoted to lecturer in 1928, and retired in 1934. She died two years later, at 54 years of age: she is buried at Linwood cemetery with her parents and sister Winnie. Elizabeth did not marry and had strong Christian beliefs, as a member of the Worcester Street Brethren assembly.
SourceMacmillan Brown LibraryAdditional Rights InformationContact Macmillan Brown Library for access to this image. Original image believed to be held at the Alexander Turnbull Library in the Adams-Heriott album.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22760420?search%5Bi%5D%5Bcategory%5D=Images&search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=elizabeth+herriott
DescriptionBotanist Elizabeth Herriott at Cass Field Station, holding a spade.Botanist Elizabeth Maude Herriott (1882-1936) was the first woman employed by the University of Canterbury (then Canterbury College) on their teaching staff. Her Irish father David (1850-1928) was a Christchurch grocer whose shop was at 323 and 325 Bealey Ave, and her mother was Eliza Susanna Herriott (1858-1934). Her siblings were grocer Percy David Herriott(1895-1980), Irene Herriott (later Lamb) (1895-1980), Elsie Mary Herriott (1893-1932) and Winifred Herriot, known as Winnie (1883-1901).
In 1905 Elizabeth completed her Masters thesis about 'the anatomical leaf structure of plants from New Zealand’s sub-antarctic islands', then becoming a schoolteacher at both Rangi Ruru and Kaikōura District High Schools. WW1 opened up positions for women in science and she was employed in 1916 as an assistant biology lecturer at Canterbury College. She undertook research into tadpole shrimps, and published important scientific papers on great brown kelp and the botanical history of Hagley Park in Ōtautahi Christchurch.
She was promoted to lecturer in 1928, and retired in 1934. She died two years later, at 54 years of age: she is buried at Linwood cemetery with her parents and sister Winnie. Elizabeth did not marry and had strong Christian beliefs, as a member of the Worcester Street Brethren assembly.
SourceMacmillan Brown LibraryAdditional Rights InformationContact Macmillan Brown Library for access to this image. Original image believed to be held at the Alexander Turnbull Library in the Adams-Heriott album.https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22760420?search%5Bi%5D%5Bcategory%5D=Images&search%5Bpath%5D=items&search%5Btext%5D=elizabeth+herriott
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Researched BySarah DavyWritten BySarah Davy
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Elizabeth Maude Herriott at Cass Field Station. Selwyn Stories, accessed 19/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/7019