HANNAH, MARJORY LYDIA (1891-1930) née Nicholls, was born in Wellington, the youngest child of H. E. Nicholls. She was educated at Clyde Quay school, The Terrace school and Wellington Girls' College, and passed on to Victoria College. While there she took a prominent part in most of the College activities, contributing to, and later on, editing The Spike, and distinguishing herself in the dramatic and debating clubs. She was the first woman to win the oratorical contests for the Plunket medal (1913). Eye-strain and nerve trouble caused her to leave Victoria College without taking her degree, and she commenced her travels in 1914, visiting Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland, France, Belgium and Switzerland. She returned to Wellington (1915) and for the next three years taught at Marsden School. In 1917 she published her first book of poems, A Venture in Verse, and in 1918 spent a year in Ceylon and India. In Feb 1920 she was married to John Hannah of Colombo, who died a few weeks later. Mrs Hannah then returned to New Zealand. Between intervals of teaching at Marsden School, Chilton House, Girls College and Chilton St James, she visited many overseas countries. In 1922 she published her second book of poems, Gathered Leaves. She did notable work on the amateur stage in Wellington and was a foundation member of the National Repertory Theatre Society. She also did competent work in stage-production for the University Dramatic Club and other societies. She was a gifted dramatic reader. During the winter of 1930 she was largely occupied in lecturing on the drama in Wellington, the Hutt, Masterton, and Palmerston North for the W.E.A. Her final book of verse, entitled Thirdly, was published within a few days of her death (which occurred on 1 Oct 1930).

Marjory Nicholls, op. cit.; Art in N.Z., Mar 1931; The Dominion, 23 Aug (p), 3 Oct 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 193

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