Biography contributed by Lissa Mitchell, Curator Historical Photography
Harriet Sophia Cobb (1846-1929, nee Day) was born in Norfolk, UK and her father was early Bournemouth photographer Robert Day (1822-1873) who taught her the photographic trade, which she later taught her husband, Joseph.
After arriving in New Zealand from Britain in 1884, the couple operated two studios in Napier (from 1884) and Hastings (from 1885) but after Joseph’s bankruptcy in 1887, Harriet won a plea to continue to operate the businesses and successfully operated both studios in her name until she retired in 1911.
In 1892, when she signed the Women's suffrage petition, Harriet was 46 years old and had a new baby, John Wesley (who was the youngest of her fifteen children and was later killed in action during World War I).
Harriet's daughter, Elsie Cobb, also signed the petition in Napier and her daughter-in-law Laura Cobb signed the petition in Palmerston North.
Sources
Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.
Community contributions