Skip to main content

Story: Lesbian lives

Daisy Isaacs and the Spinsters' Club

Image
Daisy Isaacs and the Spinsters' Club

Daisy Isaacs (top left) lived with her companion Amy Kane in Eastbourne, near Wellington, where they were part of a network of female couples in the early and mid-20th century. Both women were closely involved with women's organisations, including the Pioneer Club and the Lyceum Club. Isaacs was also a member of the Spinsters' Club. The club's members are pictured knitting socks for New Zealand soldiers fighting in the First World War.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: 1/2-030986-F

by Joseph Zachariah

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Alison J. Laurie, Lesbian lives – Early meeting places, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/30277/daisy-isaacs-and-the-spinsters-club (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Alison J. Laurie, published 5 April 2011.

Comments


17 April 2015
Kia ora Charlotte, if you click on the 'reference' link below the caption, that will take you to the image on the Turnbull Library site, and indeed the names are included in their caption.
Charlotte
13 April 2015
Have you been able to identify the other women in this photograph?