Geraldine Moodie

Geraldine Moodie (31 October 1854 – 4 October 1945) was a Canadian photographer who pioneered in capturing photos of early Canadian history. She is best known for her work with indigenous peoples in Northern Canada. Moodie is one of Canada's first professional female photographers. She opened photography studios in Battleford, Saskatchewan, Maple Creek (1897), and Medicine Hat, Alberta (1897).

Biography Géraldine Fitzgibbon was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (which was Canada West at the time) on 31 October 1854 to Agnes and Charles Fitzgibbon. She was the granddaughter of author, Susanna Strickland Moodie. She was distantly related to Catherine Parr Trail.

In 1895, Moodie opened a photography studio in Battleford, Saskatchewan, becoming the first woman in the region to do so; she often photographed the area's Indigenous communities.

Career Photo taken by Moodie. "Raising the centre pole of the sundance tent", 1899

In addition to portraits, she took images of the mounted police, ranching, and wildflowers. She frequently accompanied her husband, John Douglas Moodie, on his travels, photographing the Innu people in the area of Hudson Bay (1904–1909). Moodie captioned her photographs with the names of her Indigenous subjects in Cree and Inuktitut, unlike the majority of her contemporaries. Many of her photographs were in connection with her husband's work on the Canadian Pacific Railway, accompanying his reports to Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier and CPR officials.

In her writings, she mentions needing to modify her techniques because of the glare of the snow and the harsh weather.

Legacy Moodie died in 1945 at the age of 90 and was buried in Burnsland Cemetery in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Moodie's photographs are in museum permanent collections including, Glenbow Museum in Alberta, Canada; the British Museum in London, England; and others.

A stamp depicting Moodie's photograph, Koo-tuck-tuck, was issued on 22 March 2013 by Canada Post as part of their Canadian Photography series. The image shows a traditionally dressed Inuk woman.

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