Elsie Locke
Elsie Locke | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Elsie Locke, taken in 1936 | |
| Born | Elsie Violet Farrelly 17 August 1912 Hamilton, New Zealand |
| Died | 8 April 2001 (aged 88) Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Other names | Elsie Freeman |
| Education |
|
| Occupation(s) | Writer, historian |
| Known for | Children's literature, activism |
| Relatives | Maire Leadbeater (daughter) Keith Locke (son) |
Elsie Violet Locke (née Farrelly; 17 August 1912 – 8 April 2001) was a New Zealand communist writer, historian, and leading activist in the feminism and peace movements. Probably best known for her children's literature, The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature said that she "made a remarkable contribution to New Zealand society", for which the University of Canterbury awarded her an honorary D.Litt. in 1987. She was married to Jack Locke, a leading member of the Communist Party.