Gwen Morton Spencer

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Gwendoline Gladys Spencer (1 April 1888 – 15 August 1974), generally known as Gwen Morton Spencer, was an Australian journalist, editor and art critic.

History[edit]

Spencer was born in Hobart, Tasmania, to Caroline Eliza "Carrie" Morton, née Mills,[a] and American naturalist Alexander Morton, who married in 1884.[1]

She was educated at the Collegiate School, Hobart. On 1 March 1909, she married engineer Henry John Spencer;[2] in 1913 they had twins, a boy and girl, stillborn.[3] They later moved to Sydney.

In 1924, her younger sister Dorothy married architect John D. Moore, and through him, Spencer was introduced to Sydney Ure Smith, and in 1927 she became sub-editor to Ure Smith's magazine Home.[4]

She left Ure Smith for London in 1932 and in 1933 was appointed fashion editor for Queen (later known as Harper's Bazaar. While in Sydney on holiday in 1937 she accepted a post on Associated Newspapers' Woman magazine, under Vera Hamilton, editor since 1935.[5]

In 1939, Ure Smith Pty Ltd launched a new arts and lifestyle monthly, Australia: National Journal, and appointed Spencer as co-editor with Ure Smith himself.[citation needed] Spencer took an increasingly responsible role in the management of Australia and its "Christmas annual", Week-end Book, to no avail, as it never became profitable. Australia ceased publication in 1947, but she had become indispensable to the company and by 1949 was a managing editor of Ure Smith Pty Ltd. She retired in 1951, but remained a director and took on occasional projects for the company.[citation needed]

Her husband died in 1941; she died in 1974 and was cremated.[4]

Recognition and memberships[edit]

Spencer was twice a guest of honour at Society of Women Writers functions: in 1932[6] and 1952.[7]

She was a member of the NSW chapter of the Fellowship of Australian Writers and the Sydney P.E.N. Club.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Carrie was a sister of public servant Stephen Mills.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Family Notices". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XLV, no. 4, 491. Tasmania, Australia. 11 July 1884. p. 1. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Family Notices". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XCI, no. 12, 156. Tasmania, Australia. 4 March 1909. p. 1. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Family Notices". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XCVIII, no. 13, 479. Tasmania, Australia. 13 June 1913. p. 1. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b Margaret Bettison (2002). Australian Dictionary of Biography: Spencer, Gwendoline Gladys (Gwen) (1888–1974). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Local and General". The Richmond River Herald and Northern Districts Advertiser. New South Wales, Australia. 23 August 1935. p. 2. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Near and Far". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 389. New South Wales, Australia. 15 March 1932. p. 3. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Around and About". The Sun (Sydney). No. 13, 270. New South Wales, Australia. 20 August 1952. p. 29. Retrieved 29 July 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
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