Margaret Joan Woodhouse (18 August 1927 – 12 July 1990) was an Australian librarian and bookseller. Her business focused on second-hand and antiquarian books with Australian and Pacific subjects.[1] She published five editions of the Australian Book Auction Records.

Margaret Joan Woodhouse
Born
Margaret Joan Barwell

18 August 1927
Died12 July 1990 (aged 62)
NationalityAustralian
Occupationlibrarian
Known forbookseller and compiler
SpouseFrank Lewis Woodhouse

Life

edit

Woodhouse was born in 1927 in Waverley. Her parents Agnes Gertrude (born Sargent) and Albert Edward Barwell were both English immigrants. She was educated at Mount St Marys College and Convent and her career was decided when she became an assistant at the State Library of New South Wales. She studied further and became a qualified librarian. She resigned in 1959 following her marriage the year before to another librarian.[2]

In 1962 she bought an existing company and its core business became second-hand bookselling.[2] In 1964 Woodhouse moved her bookselling business into History House in Young Street in Sydney. This was the home of the Royal Australian Historical Society. Her business focused on antiquarian books with Australian and Pacific subjects[2] History House had been obtained by The society's first premises, History House, opened at 8 Young Street, Sydney, in 1941.[3] The home was arranged by the bibliophile President, Sir John Alexander Ferguson[4] who was one of her customers. Other members and customers were the bibliophiles Geoffrey Ingleton and Walter Stone.

Between 1971 and 1979 she published five editions of "Australian Book Auction Records" which recorded the prices paid for books at auctions.[5]

The society moved to new History House at 133 Macquarie Street in 1971[3] and Woodhouse's bookshop moved too and stayed until 1983. After that the business moved to locations close to her home.[2]

Death and legacy

edit

Woodhouse died in 1990 in Gordon.[2] Her book of auction records were updated and reissued in the 1980s by Jill Burdon.[6][7][8] The final in the series was produced by Fiona Kells in 2006.[9] Her library of over 500 books was auctioned by Christies in the year after she died.[10]

References

edit
  1. ^ Radford, Neil A., "Margaret Joan Woodhouse (1927–1990)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 5 June 2024
  2. ^ a b c d e Radford, Neil A., "Margaret Joan Woodhouse (1927–1990)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2 June 2024
  3. ^ a b "Our history". Royal Australian Historical Society. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  4. ^ Else-Mitchell, R., "Sir John Alexander Ferguson (1881–1969)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 2 June 2024
  5. ^ "Sydney Bookshops". Book Collectors' Society of Australia. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  6. ^ - ; new ser. v. 1 (1983/1985)-n.s. v. 8 (1998/1999) – Australian book auction records. New Series. Volume 1., 1983-1985 / compiled by Jill Burdon. Curtin, A.C.T. : Australian Book Auction records, 1986. ISBN 1-86252-285-5
  7. ^ Australian book auction records. New series. Volume 2, 1986-1987 / compiled by Jill Burdon.Curtin, A.C.T. : Australian Book Auction Records, 1988. ISBN 0-7316-2340-1 ISBN 073162341X (series)
  8. ^ Australian book auction records. New series. Volume 3, 1988-1989 / compiled by Jill Burdon. Curtin, A.C.T : Australian Book Auction Records, 1990. ISBN 0-7316-8708-6 ISBN 073162341X (series)
  9. ^ ; ser. 3, v. 1 (2002), ser. 3, v. 2 (2004) and ser. 3, v. 3 (2006). In Australian Book Auction Records, The : Series Three, Volume One, Two and Three. Australian Book Auction Records,
  10. ^ "The Margaret Woodhouse Library by (ISBN: 45724) - Badger Books". badgerbooks.com.au. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
edit