Oroya Day MBE (née McAuley, 14 March 1931 – 26 August 2014) was a New Zealand art historian and academic, and was a lecturer at the Victoria University of Wellington. Day was a founding member and trustee of the Wellington Civic Trust, a life member of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, and founder and president of the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society. In 1989 Day was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to the preservation of local history.
Oroya Day | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 14 March 1931 |
| Died | 26 August 2014 |
| Awards | Member of the Order of the British Empire |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | Victoria University of Wellington |
Early life and education
editDay was born in Christchurch on 14 March 1931 as Oroya McAuley.[1] Her father was an accountant for New Zealand Railways.[1] She attended St Mary's College in Wellington, and at the age of 21 married artist and art historian Melvin Day in Rotorua, against the wishes of her father.[1][2] The couple travelled to London for Melvin to attend the Cortauld Institute of Art. Day earned a Diploma in Art History at the University of London in 1968.[2]
Academic career
editDay lectured at the Walthamstow School of Art in London, and then taught art history at Victoria University of Wellington.[2] She was the Chairperson of the Wellington Regional Committee of the Historic Places Trust from 1976 to 1978, and both a board member and a life member of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.[2]
Day was a founding member and trustee of the Wellington Civic Trust in 1981, and founder and inaugural president of the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace Society, established in 1986.[2] She is described as "the driving force" behind the society, and was responsible for the purchase and restoration of the house, Katherine Mansfield's childhood home.[1]
Day died in August 2014, aged 83, survived by her husband.[1]
Honours and awards
editIn the 1989 New Year Honours, Day was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to the preservation of local history.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "A life story: Mansfield House testament to art historian's tireless efforts". Dominion Post. 27 September 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah, eds. (1 January 1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-908578-34-4.
- ^ "Page 34, Supplement 51580, 30 December 1988, London Gazette, The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2024.