Marjory Nicholls

Marjory Lydia Nicholls (July 29, 1890 - October 1, 1930) was a New Zealand poet, drama producer, and debater.

Life
She was born in Wellington, New Zealand, the daughter of Susan Sampson and Harry Edgar Nicholls. She attended Clyde Quay School, Terrace School, and Wellington Girls' College. In 1909 she entered Victoria College, where she produced her first plays, and wrote for and edited the student magazine The Spike. She chaired the Women's Debating Society, and in 1913 became the first woman to win the Plunket Medal for oratory.

In 1918, travelling in Sri Lanka, she met John Hannah, a Scottish-born owner of a hardware store in Colombo, and the two were married in 1920. However, Hannah died shortly after, and Nicholls returned to Wellington.

She died after being struck by a bus, while walking home from a concert.

Writing
Nicholls wrote poetry from her school days on, and published three volumes of verse, which received good reviews.

Recognition
After her death, the Wellington Girls' College established the Marjory Nicholls Speech Contest in her memory. Her executors commissioned a portrait of her, which hangs in the women's common room of Victoria College.

Publications

 * A Venture in Verse. Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., 1917.
 * Gathered Leaves. Auckland: Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., 1922.
 * Thirdly. Sydney: Harry H. Tombs Ltd., 1930.
 * Collected Poems. Comp. F.W.N. (Niel) Wright. Wellington: Original Books, 2009.

Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy the University of Toronto.