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Betty Paterson Betty Paterson i(A45301 works by) (a.k.a. Mrs. K. Newman; Mrs. A. Wiltshire; Elizabeth Deans Paterson; Elizabeth Paterson)
Also writes as: Blue Ribbon
Born: Established: 18 Mar 1895 Carlton, Parkville - Carlton area, Melbourne - North, Melbourne, Victoria, ; Died: Ceased: 5 Jul 1970 Middle Park, South Melbourne - Port Melbourne area, Melbourne - Inner South, Melbourne, Victoria,
Gender: Female
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BiographyHistory

Betty Paterson was known primarily as illustrator and portraitist of young children. Her well known artist sister Esther Paterson  who was married to naval historian and journalist G. Hermon Gill, collaborated with Betty in illustrating children's books. The sisters were regular contributors of drawings and cartoons to the Bulletin and newspapers. Their father Hugh Paterson was the artist who re-designed Australia's coat of arms; suggested that portraits of our Prime Ministers should be painted; and was the first Chairman of the Commonwealth Art Advisory Board. Betty also studied at the Melbourne Conservatorium and was known as a singer.

She is also credited with the design of many baby books, such as the State Bank of Victoria's gifts to mothers of a booklet, Baby Book of Happy Events, which allowed parents to chronicle their child's progress. Paterson joined the list of famous Australian artists who illustrated works of Dame Mary Daly. and her portraits were in the collections of the British Royal Family, the Roosevelts and Maurice Chevalier. Her cousin was the dramatist Louis Esson.

Most Referenced Works

Notes

  • Miller's Australian Literature 1795-1938 (1973) lists her as the author of Bettie's Babies, Kate's Kiddies, etc (Melbourne, Peacock Bros) 1922 and Binkie the Bother (Melbourne, Peacock Bros) n.d. None of these were traced, although the Mitchell Library (NSW) and the Victorian State Library hold a Betty's Babies, Kute Kiddies Seen Shopping (Melbourne, Peacock Bros.) 1922.
  • For information about this author's works for children not yet included in AustLit, see Australian Children's Books by Marcie Muir and Kerry White (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1992-2004).
  • McVitty's Authors & Illustrators of Australian Children's Books(1989) and Peers' More Than Just Gumtrees (1993) have the birth date as 1894. Libraries Australia and OXAC have 1895.

Personal Awards

1966 The Order of the British Empire Member of the British Empire For services to art & the community, as Mrs Elizabeth Deans Wiltshire
Last amended 5 Jul 2018 05:51:50
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