Rosaline Margaret Frank

(1875-1954)

Notable Women Walk

Rosaline Margaret Frank was one of New Zealand's first professional women photographers and the first in Nelson.

At the age of 21 she went to work at the Tyree Photographic Studio which was opened in 1878 by William Tyree. His brother Frederick worked with him for some years. Miss Frank was left to manage the studio while the brothers were away taking photographs.

Rosaline’s main interests were photography, art and music. She preserved the glass plate negatives of photographs taken by herself and the Tyree Studio. Some of these were sold to the Alexander Turnbull Library and the rest were given to the Nelson Historical Society - they now form part of the Nelson Provincial Museum's large photographic collection.

Rosalina McCarthy, the author of a biography on Rosaline Frank, was Nelson's second professional woman photographer. She urged local photographers and business people to donate to a memorial headstone for Rosaline Frank.

Image: Courtesy Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection, 181303/3

Further reading

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (DNZB)

Read more about Rosaline Frank at DNZB. 

Burial records

• Frank Rosaline Margaret buried 8 October 1954 aged 89 years.
• Frank Josephine  Rose buried 20 March 1944 aged 82 years.
• Frank Mary buried 8 June 1918 aged 84 years.
• Frank Jacob buried 20 September 1880 aged 51 years.
• Frank Florence Fanny buried 5 May 1877 aged 14 weeks.

For more information

For more information on heritage walks and heritage sites please contact Arts and Heritage Team Leader.