Dorothy Mary Neal White QSO (née Neal, later Ballantyne, 22 December 1915 – 12 February 1995) was a notable New Zealand librarian and writer.
Dorothy Mary Neal was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1915. Her parents were Henry Neal and Florence, née Rhodes. [1] She was educated at Avonside Girls' High School followed by Canterbury College. [2] In 1933, she became a library assistant at the Canterbury Public Library, and in 1936 she became children's librarian at the Dunedin Public Libraries. [2] She later worked there again from 1957 as head of children's services until her retirement in 1974. [2]
When in 1939 Neal married a noted Dunedin second-hand-book seller, Richard (Dick) Desmond White, she continued to work under her maiden name as the City Council required women to resign on marriage. [2] After the death of her first husband in 1967, she married Dunedin doctor Robert Edmund Ballantyne in 1968. [2]
In the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for community service. [3]
The Dorothy Neal White Collection, held by the National Library of New Zealand contains over 8,000 titles of pre-1940s children's literature. [4]
Dorothy Mary Neal White QSO (née Neal, later Ballantyne, 22 December 1915 – 12 February 1995) was a notable New Zealand librarian and writer.
Dorothy Mary Neal was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1915. Her parents were Henry Neal and Florence, née Rhodes. [1] She was educated at Avonside Girls' High School followed by Canterbury College. [2] In 1933, she became a library assistant at the Canterbury Public Library, and in 1936 she became children's librarian at the Dunedin Public Libraries. [2] She later worked there again from 1957 as head of children's services until her retirement in 1974. [2]
When in 1939 Neal married a noted Dunedin second-hand-book seller, Richard (Dick) Desmond White, she continued to work under her maiden name as the City Council required women to resign on marriage. [2] After the death of her first husband in 1967, she married Dunedin doctor Robert Edmund Ballantyne in 1968. [2]
In the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for community service. [3]
The Dorothy Neal White Collection, held by the National Library of New Zealand contains over 8,000 titles of pre-1940s children's literature. [4]