Belated Accolades
Belated Accolades
A joint historical biography of Rosaline Frank & William Tyree
By Rosalina-Ludmila McCarthy
Paperback, 431 pages
ISBN 9780473632991
Published September 2022
RRP: $160.00
Available from Wheelers Books
Set in both New Zealand & Australia, Belated Accolades is a Joint Historical Biography and tells the true story of Nelson's first woman professional photographer Rosaline Margaret Frank and former early New Zealand photographer William Tyree who took the unusual step in 1895 to give Rosaline Frank a power of Attorney to handle his personal & business interests which also included his inventions and Acetylene Gas enterprises.
Rosaline Frank, 1878
Rosalina-Ludmila McCarthy has kindly supplied this extract from the Belated Accolades
Part 3 The Tyree Studio 1886 – 1895
In a recorded interview many years later, Rosaline Frank herself stated that she had “commenced work at the Tyree Studio at the age of 21 years.”
However, she never indicated when she actually did or how she came to it. As her 21st birthday was on the 21 st December 1885, it is probable that she would have started work after the holiday period in early 1886. With the financial pressure on her Mother juggling the administration of two Estates, Rosaline contributing to the family finances through work would have helped her Mother out. While older Sister Josephine stayed at home to manage the household, her younger Brother Adolph finished school then left home shortly after.
Away from the constraints of family life, for the first time, Rosaline would have experienced unexpected freedom for that era walking unescorted to the Studio on her own. This new found freedom and independence would naturally have come from her Mother’s example and would stand Rosaline in good stead as she faced the challenges of a working life that began simply and quietly in William Tyree’s Photographic Studio.
In a later conversation with Photographer Denzil Miller, Rosaline described her lowly beginnings at the Tyree Studio. “Dusting and sweeping the premises was a daily chore before anything else was done. Then printing orders for the day had to be checked before cutting the right size and amount of photographic paper required.” However, the next sequence of events would not have been as pleasant. “The paper would then be coated with an Albumen mix base and when almost dry, float on with a continuous movement the light sensitive chemicals which included Silver Nitrate. This was “An unfriendly mix that stained the skin and clothes permanently, always left smelly fumes and made allergy complaints possible as one of the chemicals used was Cyanide.”
As each Photographer of that period had to sensitise their own paper for making photographic prints, William Tyree would have taught Rosaline how this was done as soon as possible and then left her to it. She would also learn “Darkroom work, Dry Mounting, Wet Mounting, Sepia toning, as well as “Reception duties and acting as a Chaperone when a (female) portrait sitting was in process.”
As Rosaline quietly commenced her photographic learning curve, William started 1886 by continuously advertising that he was “Prepared to take portraits from 5/- (five shillings) per dozen.”
© Copyright Rosalina-Ludmila McCarthy
Rosalina McCarthy will be interviewed about Belated Accolades by Lynn Freeman during the arts programme Standing Room Only (RNZ) on Sunday 11 December 2022. (1.45pm NZtime). The full interview will be available shortly afterwards on their website.
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