A new and revealing account of the 19th Century Taranaki land wars has come to light at Victoria University.
The written account of Harriet Gore Browne, the wife of the governor at the time, wasn’t published until 100 years later. This account was the topic of Professor Charlotte Macdonald’s inaugural professorial lecture ‘The Skeleton in My Life: Harriet Gore Browne’s 19th Century Problem’, presented last Tuesday.
Macdonald explored what drove Browne to write this narrative and the circumstances surrounding her at the time. The lecture aimed to place Browne and her account in the context of the changing views in society during the 19th century.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh was extremely pleased with Macdonald’s work.
“Professor Macdonald’s research has contributed much to our understanding of New Zealand history, particularly of the women who emigrated here in the 19th century.”
The lecture was part of the university’s Inaugural Lecture series for new professors.