No Tags for this person

Add a tag


Separate multiple tags with a semicolon test cricket; Perth (WA)

Chisholm, Caroline (1808-1877)

Also known as
Jones, Caroline
Jones, Caroline (1808-1877)
Jones Chisholm, Caroline (1808-1877)
Occupation
community worker; immigration promoter
Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-612352

Biographies

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

CHISHOLM, CAROLINE (1808-1877), philanthropist, was born near Northampton, England, daughter of William Jones, a well-to-do farmer. Reared in the tradition of Evangelical philanthropy, at 22 she agreed to marry Captain Archibald Chisholm of the East India Co., but on condition that her philanthropic work should continue. He was thirteen years her senior and a Roman Catholic, which may have influenced her conversion to Catholicism about this time. Chisholm was posted in 1832 to Madras where Caroline founded the Female School of Industry for the Daughters of European Soldiers.

View the full record at Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

Australian Women's Register

Caroline Chisholm was famous for her work with new immigrants to New South Wales during the 1840s and 1850s, and later in the goldfields region of Victoria. She lobbied to ensure these people were provided with adequate accommodation and personally organised the often destitute young women to journey to rural areas in order to secure employment. Her benevolent crusade to better the lives of immigrants earned her the title 'The Immigrants' Friend'.

Caroline Chisholm arrived in Sydney, Australia from India with her husband Archibald in 1838. Reared in a tradition of evagelical philanthropy, Caroline was deeply moved when she observed single girls being dumped on the wharves in Sydney with nowhere to go. On one occasion, she found a group of 64 girls sheltering in the Rocks area with only 14s 3d amongst them. Caroline set up the Female Immigrants Home with the support of the clergy, the Governor's wife and finally the Governor himself.

Through her work at the Female Immigrant Home, Caroline gave protection and shelter to hundreds of young women, some of whom she accompanied into country areas where she found employment for them. Caroline was also concerned for families who, having migrated in the hope of better things, found themselves destitute.

In 1846, Caroline returned to England and became the publicist for Australia. She formed a society to send out groups of families to Australia and succeeded in despatching some 3,000 persons in five years. Caroline agitated for and achieved better conditions on the vessels carrying the immigrants. As well as free passages for emigrant's wives and children, she established the Family Colonisation Loan Society. When she first chartered a ship, Slains Castle, which sailed in 1850 from England to Australia, she personally supervised the embarkation and appointed a reliable surgeon to control rations.

In six years Caroline assisted 11,000 people to settle in Australia. Her activism, energy and experience contributed to changes in the migrant selection process, the treatment of migrants on the voyage out and their reception in the colony. She was worried by the news of the discovery of gold in Australia, fearing that the great influx of migrants such rushes resulted in would cause instability in such a fragile society.

In 1851 Caroline's husband, Archibald, went to Australia to work as her colonial agent while she continued to send out families and girls from Britain. In England, Caroline continued to agitate for lower colonial postal rates, for the introduction of colonial money orders and for better shipboard conditions. To this end, she ensured the passage of the Passenger Act (1852).

Now famous and supported by many powerful figures, including the writer Charles Dickins, Caroline returned to Australia in 1854. She was imbued with the optimistic idea that the wealth of a society lay in the settling of many small farmers and she worked for the unlocking of the lands.

Caroline continued to work despite illness and needy circumstances. She and her husband lived on a pension in Liverpool and then in Highgate, London. Caroline died in poverty and obscurity in England in 1877 - the inscription on her grave at Northampton reads "The emigrant's friend".

According to her biographer, Caroline Chisholm 'began her work accepting established conventions, but when she encountered the obstruction and indifference of officialdom, her attitude began to harden and she became an uncompromising radical'.#xA; She was a devoted wife and mother, who helped to give dignity to women and families in a harsh environment. She was able, idealistic, charming and supported unwaveringly in her work and achievements by her husband.

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Resources for Caroline Chisholm

Selected resources (12)

Australian Dictionary of Biography Online

  1. 'Chisholm, Caroline (1808 - 1877)' - Australian Dictionary of Biography
    Judith Iltis
    [1966]
    Published: Melbourne University Press
    Series: Volume 1
    pp 221-223.

Australian Women's Register

  1. Caroline Chisholm
    Kiddle, Margaret
    [1957]
    Published: Melbourne University Press, Melbourne
  2. Ten Victorian Women: Caroline Chisholm
    Public Record Office Victoria
    [2005]
  3. Ten Victorian Women
    Public Record Office Victoria
    [2005]
  4. Australian Dictionary of Biography Online
    Australian National University
    [2006]
  5. 200 Australian Women: A Redress Anthology
    Radi, Heather
    [1988]
    Published: Women's Redress Press, Sydney
  6. Chisholm, Caroline (1818-1877)
    Iltis, Judith
    [2006]
    Published: Australian National University
  7. Inward Registered Correspondence
    [1854]
    Letter from Caroline Chisholm, dated 15 November 1854, proposing that shelter sheds be built on the road from Melbourne to Castlemaine for the shelter and protection of immigrants
    1 letter
    Public Record Office Victoria
    VPRS 1189, Unit 120, attached to Item 54/ J 13443
  8. Miscellaneous papers re Caroline Chisholm and Dame Nellie Melba, c1833-c1953
    [Microfilm : 1833 - 1953]
    1. Caroline Chisholm papers, c1833-c1953. 2. Dame Nellie Melba papers, c1885-c1920. Both papers on the same microfilm reel. Originals held by the State Library of New South Wales: Caroline Chisholm papers at ML AC 19/1-2; Dame Nellie Melba papers at ML AM 82/1-2.
    1 Reel
    National Library of Australia Newspaper Microcopy Reading Room
    mfm G 27410
  9. Papers of Baron Thomas Spring-Rice Monteagle
    [Microfilm : 1836 - 1853]
    Microfilm copy of the original. Filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project by the National Library of Australia and the State Library of New South Wales.About 300 documents dealing with emigration from Ireland to Australia. Includes: 1) Letters , 1850-1853 to Lady Monteagle, 1836-1848 including correspondence of Lord Monteagle with various politicians and government official such as Sir Robert Peel and Lord Clarendon; letters, 1848, 1849 from Caroline Chisholm; letters, 1851 from the N.S.W. Association for Preventing the Revival of Transportation; reports on emigration; printed material and a list of emigrant ships to Australia in 1848 noting the number of emigrants, date of embarkation and captain and surgeon of each vessel.
    1 reel
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    AJCP M976
  10. Margaret Kiddle Papers
    [Papers : 1914 - 1958]
    The papers of Margaret Kiddle consisting of two groups:- 1. Papers relating to her book Caroline Chisholm including manuscript copies, notes, and correspondence connected with research into the life of her subject. Also included are photocopies of Caroline Chisholm's letters, articles, etc. 2. Papers of A. G. Steven, including drafts of poems, prose articles, published works, portraits, etc. The papers also include press cuttings of notices of Furphy's "Such is life". These can be found at Box 280/6 (e).
    1 m
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    MS 6264-MS 6266
  11. Scrapbook relating to Caroline Chisholm
    [Microfilm : 18-- - 19--]
    Scrapbook relating to Caroline Chisholm, creator unknown. Microfilm copy of original manuscript
    1 reel
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    MS 10044
  12. Collections held by London University Library relating to Australia and New Zealand
    [Microfilm : 1815 - 1972]
    Filmed as part of the Australian Joint Copying Project by the National Library of Australia and the State Library of New South Wales. 1. Letters of Joseph Banks, 1815, William Cobbett, 1830 and William Wilberforce 1823. 2. Account by William Pare of visit to female convicts at Newgate, 1834. 3. Details of John Warrow, convict, 1834-8. 4. Letter from Dr. Richard Flatter, Vienna to J.H. Pafford, 1957 re deportation to Australia in Dunera and internment camp Tatura. 5. Letters to Herbert Spencer from Sir George Grey, N.Z., 1882-4. 6. Charles and Mary C. Booth papers, 1900-1937 re tour of the picture "The Light of the World" to Australia, 1906, etc. 7. Letters from Caroline Chisholm and Count Paul Edward de Strzelecki to Lord Overstone, 1851-4. 8. Papers of Samual Tolansky, physicist 1947-72 re Australian mica. 9. Papers of Charles Bennett, 1834 re John Callaghan, convict. 10. Plans of property in Singapore. 11. John Pollitt papers, 1899-1952 re car industry in Australia and N.Z. 12. University of London Registrars collection, 1886-1900 re colonial examinations, etc. 13. Frederick Simms, papers, 1891-1936 re car business, Australia. 14. Thomas Sturge Moore papers, 1909-27.
    1 reel
    State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection
    AJCP M2289

Resources About Caroline Chisholm (98)

  1. Radical, in bonnet and shawl : four political lectures / by Caroline Chisholm ; introduction,editing and commentary by John Moran
    Chisholm, Caroline, 1808-1877
    [Book : 1993-1994]
  2. Streets of dust : a novel based on the life of Caroline Chisholm / Lola Irish
    Irish, Lola
    [Book : 1993]
  3. Emigrant's guide to Australia :
    Mackenzie, Eneas, fl. 1850-1852.
    [Article ]
    Available online
  4. Caroline Chisholm / Margaret Kiddle ; with a foreword by Sir Douglas Copland
    Kiddle, Margaret, 1914-1958
    [Book, Audio book : 1950-1996]
  5. Caroline Chisholm : 'the emigrant's friend' / written by Liz Steele
    Steele, Liz
    [Book, Audio book : 1996-2001]
  6. Caroline Chisholm / Carol Odell
    Odell, Carol
    [Book : 1983]
  7. Caroline Chisholm : a play / George Landen Dann
    Dann, George Landen
    [Book : 1943]
  8. Caroline, a musical play based on the life and times of Caroline Chisholm / by Peter N. Pinne and Don Battye ; illustrated by David Cox
    Pinne, Peter N
    [Book : 1981]
  9. Caroline Chisholm : the emigrant's friend / by Joanna Bogle
    Bogle, Joanna
    [Book : 1993]
  10. Caroline Chisholm / by Robert Colvin ; illustrated by James Phillips
    Colvin, Robert
    [Book : 1965-1980]

More...

No Comments for this person

Add a comment



  1. Website: National Conference (Curriculum Corporation (Australia))
    www.curriculum.edu.au
    Matching pages:
    View 2 matching archived pages
  2. Website: Human Services News
    www.dhs.vic.gov.au
    Matching pages:
  3. Website: H1N1 influenza 09
    www.dhs.vic.gov.au
    Matching pages:
  1. Caroline Chisholm researched and wr...
    Fabian, Sue, 19...
    [Photograph : 1980-1984]
  2. [Portrait of Caroline Chisholm] Cla...
    Hunt, J. B., 19...
    [Art work : 1853]
  3. Caroline Chisholm
    [Poster, chart, other : 1991]
  1. Fry, Henry Phibbs. 1807-1874
    Anglican clergyman; anti-transportationist; religious writer
    ... Chisholm, Caroline (1808 - 1877) ...
  2. Dickens, Charles. 1812-1870
    novelist
    ... Chisholm, Caroline (1808 - 1877) ...
  3. Sidney, Samuel. 1813-1883
    anti-transportationist; contemporary-affairs commentator; immigration promoter
    ... Chisholm, Caroline (1808 - 1877) ...
  1. The Argus Students Practical notebook GENERAL SCIENCE: THE USES OF COPPER
    The Argus (Melbourne,..., Saturday 8 December 1945 Supplement: The Argus Week-end Magazine p 26
    ... were being boiled down each year. BENEFACTORS >\ MANKIND: CAROLINE CHISHOLM (1808-1877) Caroline Chisholm. A FRENCH historian has described Caroline Chisholm as Australia's "saint." She was bom Caroline Jones in 1808, but when she grew up she married a certain Captain , Archibald Chisholm. Settling ... 2406 words