Makers: Karen Shaw and Emily Barker

Panel number: 236

Petition sheet number: 289

Person honouring: Emily Barker

Relationship to makers: Husband’s great-grandmother; children’s great-great-grandmother

Emily Studholme was one of 10 children born to early settlers Effie Channon and Michael Studholme. Born Emmeline Violet Studholme in New Zealand in 1862, but known as Emmie, she grew up at Te Waimate, their farm in South Canterbury. 

In 1882 Emily married John Matthias (Jack) Barker. Jack was born in New Zealand in 1856 to early Canterbury settlers Emma Bacon and Dr Alfred Barker. 

Emily and Jack lived all their lives at their farm called Waihi, near Geraldine in South Canterbury. She had eight children between 1884 and 1899 – they were all given her maiden name as a middle name. 

Emily appears to be the only one in her family and friends to have signed the suffrage petition, so she must have felt strongly about it. She continued to enrol to vote after the petition.

Emily was mainly occupied with sewing, bottling fruit, horse riding, painting, reading, hosting visitors, flower arranging, discussing current affairs with her husband, managing the servants, and caring for her children. She made trips to surrounding farms and towns, but most of all she enjoyed regular family trips to her childhood home.

World War 1 affected Emily. Six of her children served during WW1 and sadly one was killed. After the war Emily and Jack went to Europe and visited their son’s grave.

Emily died in 1938, five years after Jack.

Panel materials: Photo of Emily Barker with her children (taken mid-1890s) printed onto canvas. Painting on calico copied from one by Emily. Signature embroidered on plain cream fabric. Braid bought new; backing a fabric a piece I already had. Belgian lace on back.