Amy Harper / Belwood Studios

Born 1900, became a skilled photographic retoucher as a teenager working for Hermann Schmidt. Purchased J C Morton's Glenmore Studios in 1922, and recruited family members into the business. She purchased the Belwood Studios in Queen Street from H C Northwood in 1928 (according to Main and Turner, in fact the Auckland Directory (1935/6), p2100 still shows Northwood as proprietor - but see Eggleton) which operated as the Amy Harper Studio until c1958. A 1932 directory entry lists her as proprietor of Rubens Studios in Queen Street. In 1942 Amy and her sister (Dickie) took over George St John Biggs' Karangahape Road studio which they operated as Belwood Studios until 1976. Their last Belwood Studio (in Papatoetoe) closed in 1979. A research paper based on taped interviews with Amy Harper and her sister Dickie Steer has been compiled by Gill Myers and is available at the Fine Arts Library, Auckland University. Foundation member NZ Professional Photographers Association. (Appears on group