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Louisa Alice Baker

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Louisa Alice Baker (pen names, Mrs. Louis Alien Baker, Louisa Alien Baker, and Alien; 13 January 1856 – 22 March 1926) was an English-born New Zealand journalist and novelist.

Early years

Louisa Alice Dawson was born in Aston, Warwickshire, England, on 13 January 1856. At the age of 7, her family immigrated to Lyttelton, New Zealand.[1]

Career

In 1874, she married John William Baker and they had two children, John William Walter Baker[2] and Ethel Elizabeth Baker[3] She used several pen names for the different aspects for her career. When writing for the Otago Witness writing their children's column she was known as 'Dot' and used the name 'Alice when writing for the Otago Witness women's column. She continued to write for the Witness after she moved to England in 1894. After her move to England, Louisa wrote novels under the name 'Alien' and continued to write popular articles until her death in 1926 as a result of burns from a stove fire in her home.[4][5]

In 1886, Baker moved with her children to Dunedin, New Zealand to work for the Otago Witness as writer. Initially, she began working as a writer for a women's column[6]. She then began to write for the children's column[4] first called Letters From Little Folk which later became known as Our Little Folks and finally Dot's Little Folks[7][8]. She would respond to children's questions and write short stories. At some point in 1893, Baker left New Zealand to publish her first novel in England. Due to her many pen names, her novels can be found under many names which include: Louisa Alice Baker, Mrs. Louis Alien Baker, Louisa Alien Baker, and Alien. Most of her novels are credited to 'Alien'. Her first novel A daughter of the king was published in 1894, followed by The majesty of man : a novel (1895), In golden shackles (1896), The untold half (1899), The devil's half-acre (1900) Another woman's territory (1901), His neighbour's landmark (1907), and A Maid of Mettle (1913).[9] Baker began writing a column for the Otago Witness again in 1903 called "Alien's Letter from England". She wrote for them until her death in 1926.[4]

References

  1. ^ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSBK-XPF : 8 August 2017), Louisa Dawson, 13 Oct 1863; citing ship Lancashire Witch, Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm. Retrieved 20 February 2018
  2. ^ "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24V-HWC3 : 27 November 2017), Louisa Alice Baker in entry for John William Walter Baker, 1875; citing Birth, New Zealand, registration number 1875/11695, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington.Retrieved 20 February 2018
  3. ^ "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24V-DZWY : 27 November 2017), Louisa Alice Baker in entry for Ethel Elizabeth Baker, 1877; citing Birth, New Zealand, registration number 1877/9773, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington. Retrieved 20 February 2018
  4. ^ a b c McCallum, Janet. "Louisa Alice Baker". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  5. ^ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVH4-TWSJ : 4 September 2014), Louisa A Baker, 1926; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006," database, findmypast(http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Death, Eastry, Kent, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Retrieved 20 February 2018
  6. ^ Zealand, National Library of New. "Papers Past | Newspapers | Otago Witness | 10 April 1890 | This page". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Letters from Little Folk ". Otago Witness. 16 July 1886. p. 35. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. ^ (https://www.informit.org/researchers/who-is-informit), Informit - RMIT Training PTY LTD (2011). "Reading the newspaper in colonial Otago". Journal of New Zealand Studies (12). {{cite journal}}: External link in |last= (help)
  9. ^ "Results for 'no:024855575 OR no:026819979 OR no:894819556 OR no:948537083 OR no:669332395 OR no:608928986 OR no:669332389 OR no:018238219 OR no:020599593 OR no:155173863' [WorldCat.org]". www.worldcat.org. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
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