K Langloh Parker
Encyclopedia
Catherine Langloh Parker (1 May 1856 - 27 March 1940) was a writer who lived in Northern New South Wales
in the late nineteenth century.
She is best known for recording the stories of the Aboriginal
people around her. As their culture was in decline, because of pressure by European settlers, her testimony is one of the best accounts we have of the beliefs and stories of the Aboriginal
people of North-West New South Wales
at that time. However, her accounts reflect European prejudices of the time, and so to modern ears her accounts contain a number of misconceptions and racist comments. Their value is illustrated by her recording of an account of Baiame
dating from around 1830, which is the earliest known reference to Baiame, casting doubt on the assertion that it was a construct of European missionaries.
She was born Catherine Eliza Somerville Field on board the ‘Luilyl’, in Encounter Bay
, in South Australia
, daughter of Henry Field, pastoralist, and his wife Sophia, daughter of Rev. Ridgway Newland. She grew up on her father's property at Marra Station in Northern New South Wales
. In 1875, at the age of 18, she married her first husband, Langloh Parker, and moved to his property, Bangate Station, near Angledool, New South Wales
where she collected most of the Yularoi, or Euahlayi, stories which were to make her famous. After Langloh died in Sydney in 1903, she met and married Percival Randolph Stow, the son of Randolph Stow
, in London
, and lived with him in Adelaide
until her death in 1940.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in the late nineteenth century.
She is best known for recording the stories of the Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
people around her. As their culture was in decline, because of pressure by European settlers, her testimony is one of the best accounts we have of the beliefs and stories of the Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
people of North-West New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
at that time. However, her accounts reflect European prejudices of the time, and so to modern ears her accounts contain a number of misconceptions and racist comments. Their value is illustrated by her recording of an account of Baiame
Baiame
In Australian Aboriginal mythology Baiame was the Creator God and Sky Father in the dreaming of several language groups , of Indigenous Australians of South-East Australia....
dating from around 1830, which is the earliest known reference to Baiame, casting doubt on the assertion that it was a construct of European missionaries.
She was born Catherine Eliza Somerville Field on board the ‘Luilyl’, in Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay
Encounter Bay is located on the south central coast of South Australia, some 100 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the encounter on 8 April 1802 between Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin, both of whom were charting the Australian coastline for their respective countries...
, in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, daughter of Henry Field, pastoralist, and his wife Sophia, daughter of Rev. Ridgway Newland. She grew up on her father's property at Marra Station in Northern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. In 1875, at the age of 18, she married her first husband, Langloh Parker, and moved to his property, Bangate Station, near Angledool, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
where she collected most of the Yularoi, or Euahlayi, stories which were to make her famous. After Langloh died in Sydney in 1903, she met and married Percival Randolph Stow, the son of Randolph Stow
Randolph Stow
Julian Randolph Stow was an Australian writer.-Life:Born in Geraldton, Western Australia, Randolph Stow attended Guildford Grammar School and the University of Western Australia. He lectured in English Literature at the University of Adelaide, the University of Western Australia and the...
, in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and lived with him in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
until her death in 1940.