L M Herrmann

Biography contributed by Lissa Mitchell, Curator Historical Photography.

Louisa Marion Herrmann (nee Eton) was born in Birmingham (UK) in 1864 and arrived in New Zealand aboard the Piako in 1880. Louisa’s father, Henry Edgar Eton (c.1832–1894), was a chemist who eventually settled in Masterton and she had two brothers, Edgar and Edward. Sometime around 1882-3, Louisa started work as an assistant at the Connolly and Herrmann photography studio on Lambton Quay, Wellington.

In October 1890, Louisa married one of her employers, Richard Herrmann (c.1847–1892), and in the same month, Richard advertised that he had opened his own photography studio in Cuba Street, Wellington. The announcement advised that ‘Mrs Herrmann is always in attendance and will be happy to receive lady visitors.’ Two years later, in July 1892, Louisa gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Inez (1892–1990), but sadly two months later Richard died from typhoid leaving Louisa a widow with a new baby and a business.

From 1892 until 1908 Louisa Herrmann operated the large and successful Herrmann photographic studio alone employing many staff. Louisa took George Wilson’s name on their marriage in 1899 and she retired in 1908 when the studio assets were offered for sale. The notice stated the studio had been in business for eighteen years and held a stock of ‘35,000 negatives of Wellington and Colonial Celebrities’. It is unknown whether these negatives found a buyer in 1908 or what happened to them.

Louisa died in 1955.

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