Dame Janet Elaine Paul (née Wilkinson; 9 November 1919 – 28 July 2004) was a New Zealand publisher, painter and art historian, based in

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

. She was married to Blackwood Paul and they had a bookselling and publishing business together. Their publishing house, Blackwood and Janet Paul, specialized in New Zealand literature and society, publishing important works such as ''The Maori People in the Nineteen Sixties'' (1968), which included essays by eminent Māori scholars Bruce Biggs and

Pei Te Hurinui Jones Pei Te Hurinui Jones (9 September 1898 – 7 May 1976) was a Māori political leader, writer, genealogist, and historian. As a leader of the Tainui tribal confederation and of the Māori King Movement, he participated in negotiations with t ...

, and

Hone Tuwhare Hone Peneamine Anatipa Te Pona Tuwhare (21 October 1922 – 16 January 2008) was a noted Māori people, Māori New Zealand poet. He is closely associated with The Catlins in the Southland region of New Zealand, where he lived for the latter ...

's first collection of poetry ''No Ordinary Sun'' (1964). After her husband's death, she was courted by Denis Glover, one of the poets they published. From 1971 to 1980, she was art librarian at the

Alexander Turnbull Library The National Library of New Zealand () is charged with the obligation to "enrich the cultural and economic life of New Zealand and its interchanges with other nations" (National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga) Act 2003). Under the ...

in Wellington. Janet and Blackwood Paul had four daughters. Their eldest daughter,

Joanna Margaret Paul Joanna Margaret Paul (14 December 1945 – 29 May 2003) was a New Zealand visual artist, poet and film-maker. Early life and education Paul was one of four daughters of pioneering New Zealand publisher Blackwood Paul and artist and writer Ja ...

, became a well-known New Zealand artist, poet, publisher and film-maker, while their second daughter, Charlotte Paul, is a doctor,

epidemiologist Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent diseases. It is a cornerstone ...

and emeritus professor at the

University of Otago The University of Otago () is a public university, public research university, research collegiate university based in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. Founded in 1869, Otago is New Zealand's oldest university and one of the oldest universities in ...

. Their third daughter, Mary Paul is retired scholar of New Zealand literature, particularly the work of

Robin Hyde Robin Hyde, the pseudonym used by Iris Guiver Wilkinson (19 January 1906 – 23 August 1939), was a South African-born New Zealand poet, journalist and novelist. Early life Wilkinson was born in Cape Town to an English father and an Australia ...

. Their youngest daughter, Jane Paul, was also an artist and worked at the National Film Archive and then Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. In the

1997 Queen's Birthday Honours The 1997 Birthday Honours were announced on 14 June 1997 for the United Kingdom and on 2 June 1997 for New Zealand.New Zealand list: Queen's Birthday Honours are announced on or around the date of the Monarch's Official Birthday in the United K ...

, Paul was appointed a

Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ...

, for services to publishing, writing and painting.

References

External links

Obituary: Dame Janet Paul
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paul, Janet Elaine 1919 births 2004 deaths New Zealand artists New Zealand publishers (people) People from Wellington City Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Entrican family