341:. Three librariesāof the New Zealand Institute, the Dominion Museum, and the Wellington Philosophical Societyāhad been held at the Dominion Museum and it took the officers of the institute plus three men from the Public Works Department one week to relocate all the books in November 1922. There were great difficulties separating the libraries and when Wood relocated to the Hunter Building on 6 June 1923, much of the work was still to be done. Wood completed the remaining work practically by herself and showed "competent energy and determination". She received special recognition in the 1924
310:, who was the institute's president at the time, pointed out that Wood had put him right on many occasions in her "usual cheerful manner" where he would otherwise have gone wrong, and that her title of an assistant was not correct, as she was the institute's secretary. Farr suggested that if the word "assistant" was required, "a more just title would be 'assistant president'." At the subsequent 1931 annual general meeting, Thomson moved that Wood's title be changed to the secretary. Wood had a deep admiration for Thomson and kept his portrait in her bedroom all her life.
47:
180:, president of the New Zealand Institute from 1929 to 1931, said of her that it would be more accurate to describe her as the institute's assistant president. She carried a large administrative load at the Royal Society and correctly predicted that upon her retirement, she would be replaced by five people; those five positions were established within three years of her departure.
353:, who was president when she retired and who later wrote her obituary, said that there was no prospect of employing somebody on similar terms. At a leaving function on 28 November, she was presented with a silver tray. Few of the attendees knew that Wood's partner of 42 years had died just three weeks earlier; her partner's illness was the reason for Wood asking to retire.
322:(president from 1918 to 1920 immediately prior to Wood's appointment), who was known for his brusque manner. When Wood attended a committee meeting, taking notes on the request of Aston, Cockayne asked: "What is SHE doing here?" Wood never forgave him and late in life noted that: "Despite all his honours he was the rudest man I ever met."
356:
Wood carried a large administrative burden at the Royal
Society, with the meetings of the council a particularly busy period. Exhausted after one of those meetings, she once exclaimed to the assistant librarian: "When I leave this job, you mark my words, five people will replace me." She was correct:
430:
In 1933, Wood was a founding member of the New
Zealand Institute of Chartered Secretaries. She was admitted a fellow of the organisation (FCSNZ) and after the 1953 merger with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, the honorifics changed to FCIS (fellow of the Chartered Institute
348:
By 1947, Wood's salary had increased to NZĀ£425. From 1950, she was assisted by a part-time librarian. In May 1962, Wood asked to go into retirement. The society's council arranged for six months' paid leave and a NZĀ£500 bonus, perhaps in recognition that she did not have a superannuation scheme but
317:
from 1908 to 1925, but after a while in the role, Wood replaced Aston. Wood interacted more with Aston than any other board member. Wood is regarded as having dedicated her life to the Royal
Society. She was well-liked, exceedingly helpful, and trusted with many confidential matters, as she was
233:. She did not receive a secondary school education. Her father, who was an accountancy tutor, also taught writing and was a designer. He announced one day that he would teach calligraphy to Mimie and make her "the best in New Zealand". Her handwritten minutes that she would take in
283:
The New
Zealand Institute decided in 1919 that they needed to employ a permanent paid official as the workload for their honorary officials had become too time-consuming. The Board of Governors gave authority to the Standing Committee to employ someone for a salary not exceeding
385:, who was chair of the Wellington Horticultural Society, as patron for their society, Magill was the inaugural vice-president, and Wood the inaugural honorary secretary-treasurer. The society's first show was held in September 1938. The September 1941 show was attended by
280:. Her next employment was in the office of the hardware merchants Paterson & Barr Ltd in Princes Street. At some time before 1919, she moved to Wellington, where her first role was as an assistant accountant to a large commercial business.
393:. Wood remained the society's secretary-treasurer until 1970, when she was elected honorary member. She also held memberships with the Hutt Valley and East Harbour Rose Society (where she was on the council), and the Floral Art Society.
380:
Magill and Wood set up the
Eastbourne Horticultural Society (originally called the East Harbour Society), with Wood calling an inaugural meeting on 1 March 1938 via a flyer that she distributed to residents. They attracted
302:āwith appointing the right person. Wood received the appointment in August 1920 and Thomson, who had been the institute's president in 1907 and 1908, was instrumental in her getting the job. At the beginning of the
318:
discreet. Journalists recorded how helpful she was to them when they reported from meetings of the institute's board. Wood got on well with all board members and presidents, with the exception of botanist
1026:
191:. There, they were part of a circle of lesbian friends at a time when it was highly unusual to be openly lesbian. They were both very active in the community and both were appointed members of the
164:
36:
373:, where she remained for the rest of her life. There was a community of female couples in Eastbourne that was an early example of lesbian community in New Zealand. Wood lived with
357:
by 1965āthree years after Wood's retirementāthe Royal
Society was employing a general secretary, an executive officer, an office assistant, a librarian, and a library assistant.
195:. Wood co-founded a number of community groups and usually served on committees, holding positions with those groups for decades. She was elected fellow of two societies.
294:
721:
403:
In 1948, Wood was one of the founders of the East
Harbour Women's Club. From 1947 to 1975, she was the honorary secretary for the Eastbourne branch of the
288:
200. Tasks to fulfill were to act as assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, assistant editor, assistant librarian, compile indexes for the institute's
211:. She never used her birth name, not even on official documents, but always signed as Mimie Wood. Her parents were Edwin Thomas and Susan Sophia Wood (
397:
699:
326:
1011:
439:(MBE) for her services as secretary of the Royal Society of New Zealand. In 2017, Wood was selected as one of the Royal Society Te ApÄrangi's
1036:
1021:
432:
730:
330:
1006:
669:
1016:
996:
571:
493:
390:
350:
377:, a teacher, from 1920 until Magill's death. Magill's younger sister Ada and her partner, Molly Gore, were part of the group.
1031:
932:
904:
848:
820:
792:
764:
386:
1041:
734:
991:
673:
277:
173:
126:
396:
In 1939, Wood became joint secretary when an
Eastbourne group was formed to arrange the local contribution towards the
436:
258:
192:
431:
of
Secretaries). In 1963, she was elected fellow of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (FRNZIH). In the
370:
184:
520:
440:
334:
242:
208:
621:
404:
1001:
986:
981:
273:
238:
333:
would not allow further bookshelves to be installed over a concern of excessive weight. Professor
264:
Edwin Wood died in 1918 and Susan Wood in 1925; both her parents died in their home town
Dunedin.
960:
337:, who was the institute's president at the time, arranged that the institute could move into the
299:
234:
955:
927:
899:
815:
593:
543:
515:
871:
843:
787:
759:
400:. Wood was also secretary of the Eastbourne Lyric Group, a group that she had founded in 1937.
598:
548:
285:
496:(June 1980). "Obituary : Miss Mimie Wood (1888ā1979), M.B.E., F.C.I.S., F.R.I.H.N.Z.".
382:
319:
303:
374:
338:
306:, her salary was cut in line with the blanket salary cut for civil servants. Geophysicist
188:
144:
46:
574:(15 May 1968). "The Royal Society of New Zealand ā A century of scientific endeavour".
415:
307:
177:
975:
419:
314:
230:
94:
250:
246:
695:
169:
207:. She was christened as Susan Selina Wood at the Anglican St Peter's Church in
176:. She was employed by the organisation from 1920 until her retirement in 1962.
213:
98:
20:
876:
723:
Lady-Husbands and Kamp Ladies: Pre-1970 Lesbian Life in Aotearoa/New Zealand
366:
254:
411:
226:
349:
also as an acknowledgement that she had been employed "for a pittance".
298:. In May 1920, the Standing Committee tasked the institute's presidentā
204:
74:
222:
221:
Wood received her education at schools in various Dunedin suburbs:
653:
Illuminating Our World: 150 years of the Royal Society Te ApÄrangi
626:
Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand
936:. Vol. CXXVIII, no. 87. 10 October 1939. p. 12
852:. Vol. CXXXII, no. 66. 15 September 1941. p. 5
824:. Vol. CXXVI, no. 69. 19 September 1938. p. 14
245:, and for some time she taught bible classes there. She knew
136:
One of the Royal Society Te ApÄrangi's 150 women in 150 words
908:. Vol. CXXVIII, no. 29. 3 August 1939. p. 15
768:. Vol. CXXV, no. 48. 26 February 1938. p. 8
622:"Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors"
313:
The honorary secretary of the institute was the chemist
183:
From 1920 until shortly before her death, Wood lived in
1027:
New Zealand Members of the Order of the British Empire
796:. Vol. CXXV, no. 51. 2 March 1938. p. 9
325:
The New Zealand Institute had to move from the wooden
237:
were testimony to her father's teaching. She attended
422:
even after an operation. She died on 25 August 1979.
880:. Vol. 21, no. 4. 25 June 1947. p. 11
140:
132:
122:
114:
106:
82:
56:
30:
696:"Lesbian lives ā Early relationships and networks"
365:When Wood came to Wellington, she first lived in
295:International Catalogue of Scientific Literature
576:Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand
498:Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand
488:
486:
484:
482:
480:
478:
476:
16:New Zealand secretary, accountant and librarian
474:
472:
470:
468:
466:
464:
462:
460:
458:
456:
964:(3rd supplement). 1 January 1963. p. 40.
172:secretary, accountant, and librarian for the
8:
602:. No. 19700. 29 January 1926. p. 7
272:Wood took her first job at the Athenaeum in
664:
662:
552:. No. 19368. 2 January 1925. p. 6
389:, who earlier that year had been appointed
788:"Horticulture : East Harbour Society"
524:. No. 16710. 17 April 1918. p. 4
45:
27:
398:Wellington Provincial Centennial Memorial
168:(4 December 1888 ā 25 August 1979) was a
414:in her legs. She remained bed-ridden at
700:Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
452:
276:, where she catalogued books using the
229:, and then at Dunedin Normal School in
249:in Dunedin, who would later become a
212:
7:
694:Laurie, Alison J. (15 August 2018).
110:Secretary, accountant and librarian
733:. pp. 189ā190. Archived from
435:, she was appointed member of the
14:
731:Victoria University of Wellington
410:In her final year, she developed
729:(PhD). Wellington, New Zealand:
391:governor-general of New Zealand
257:. It is thought that she knew
1:
1012:New Zealand women accountants
1037:Royal Society of New Zealand
1022:New Zealand women librarians
278:Dewey Decimal Classification
174:Royal Society of New Zealand
437:Order of the British Empire
193:Order of the British Empire
19:For the voice actress, see
1058:
720:Laurie, Alison J. (2003).
369:and in 1920, she moved to
18:
760:"Eastbourne horticulture"
674:Royal Society Te ApÄrangi
203:Wood was born in 1888 in
127:Royal Society Te ApÄrangi
44:
651:Martin, John E. (2017).
1007:New Zealand accountants
594:"New Zealand Institute"
371:Eastbourne, New Zealand
331:Public Works Department
1017:New Zealand librarians
997:People from Lower Hutt
441:150 women in 150 words
426:Awards and recognition
1032:New Zealand gardeners
433:1963 New Year Honours
261:through Knox Church.
1042:New Zealand lesbians
992:People from Dunedin
872:"Hutt Rose Society"
268:Professional career
961:The London Gazette
300:Thomas Easterfield
292:and cards for the
235:copperplate script
187:with her partner,
900:"Starting a fund"
599:Otago Daily Times
549:Otago Daily Times
150:
149:
115:Years active
61:Susan Selina Wood
1049:
966:
965:
952:
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933:The Evening Post
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905:The Evening Post
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862:
861:
859:
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849:The Evening Post
844:"Spring flowers"
840:
834:
833:
831:
829:
821:The Evening Post
812:
806:
805:
803:
801:
793:The Evening Post
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765:The Evening Post
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750:
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728:
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583:
568:
562:
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540:
534:
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531:
529:
512:
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505:
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383:Elizabeth Gilmer
320:Leonard Cockayne
304:Great Depression
217:
167:
93:Bowen Hospital,
89:
70:
68:
49:
39:
28:
1057:
1056:
1052:
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1046:
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541:
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527:
525:
514:
513:
509:
492:
491:
454:
449:
428:
375:Margaret Magill
363:
351:Charles Fleming
339:Hunter Building
327:Dominion Museum
270:
251:palaeontologist
201:
189:Margaret Magill
163:
145:Margaret Magill
102:
91:
87:
78:
72:
71:4 December 1888
66:
64:
63:
62:
52:
40:
35:
33:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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751:
740:on 21 May 2017
712:
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572:Fleming, C. A.
563:
535:
507:
494:Fleming, C. A.
451:
450:
448:
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427:
424:
416:Bowen Hospital
362:
359:
308:Coleridge Farr
269:
266:
259:George Thomson
200:
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178:Coleridge Farr
148:
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138:
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133:Known for
130:
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92:
90:(aged 90)
86:25 August 1979
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928:"Lyric Group"
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906:
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892:
879:
878:
873:
867:
864:
851:
850:
845:
839:
836:
823:
822:
817:
816:"Spring show"
811:
808:
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655:. p. 66.
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420:Crofton Downs
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315:Bernard Aston
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153:Susan Selina
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107:Occupation(s)
105:
101:, New Zealand
100:
96:
95:Crofton Downs
85:
81:
77:, New Zealand
76:
59:
55:
48:
43:
38:
29:
26:
22:
959:
950:
938:. Retrieved
931:
922:
910:. Retrieved
903:
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882:. Retrieved
875:
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854:. Retrieved
847:
838:
826:. Retrieved
819:
810:
798:. Retrieved
791:
782:
770:. Retrieved
763:
754:
742:. Retrieved
735:the original
722:
715:
703:. Retrieved
689:
677:. Retrieved
670:"Mimie Wood"
652:
646:
634:. Retrieved
629:
625:
616:
604:. Retrieved
597:
588:
579:
575:
566:
554:. Retrieved
547:
538:
526:. Retrieved
521:Evening Star
519:
510:
501:
497:
429:
409:
402:
395:
387:Cyril Newall
379:
364:
361:Private life
355:
347:
343:Transactions
342:
324:
312:
293:
290:Transactions
289:
282:
271:
263:
247:John Marwick
220:
216: Toomey
202:
182:
160:
156:
152:
151:
88:(1979-08-25)
51:Wood in 1934
25:
1002:Secretaries
987:1979 deaths
982:1888 births
956:"No. 42872"
632:: 773. 1924
412:blood clots
274:The Octagon
239:Knox Church
170:New Zealand
976:Categories
940:6 February
912:6 February
884:6 February
856:6 February
828:6 February
800:6 February
772:6 February
744:3 February
705:3 February
679:2 February
636:2 February
606:6 February
556:2 February
528:2 February
447:References
335:Harry Kirk
199:Early life
185:Eastbourne
99:Wellington
67:1888-12-04
32:Mimie Wood
21:Mimi Woods
877:Hutt News
582:(6): 106.
405:Red Cross
367:Lyall Bay
255:geologist
209:Caversham
118:1920ā1962
544:"Deaths"
516:"Deaths"
504:: 35ā39.
227:Kaikorai
123:Employer
329:as the
205:Dunedin
141:Partner
75:Dunedin
223:Wakari
738:(PDF)
727:(PDF)
157:Mimie
942:2021
914:2021
886:2021
858:2021
830:2021
802:2021
774:2021
746:2021
707:2021
681:2021
638:2021
608:2021
558:2021
530:2021
253:and
161:Wood
83:Died
57:Born
502:108
418:in
286:NZĀ£
241:in
218:).
214:nƩe
165:MBE
37:MBE
978::
958:.
930:.
902:.
874:.
846:.
818:.
790:.
762:.
698:.
672:.
661:^
630:55
628:.
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578:.
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518:.
500:.
455:^
443:.
407:.
345:.
225:,
97:,
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888:.
860:.
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804:.
776:.
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709:.
683:.
640:.
610:.
580:2
560:.
532:.
159:"
155:"
69:)
65:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
