May Kidson

{{Short description|Bahamian-Australian poet and songwriter}}{{Short description|(1858-1942) Bahamian-Australian poet and songwriter}} {{Infobox person/Wikidata | fetchwikidata = ALL }}

'''Mary Amelia "May" Kidson''' (1858–1942) was a Bahamian-Australian poet and songwriter. Mary and her mother moved to Western Australia after the death of her father, Sir William H. Doyle. Kidson published under the names M.K. and May Kidson. She was the author of at least 52 works,<ref name=":3" /> her most well-known collection being "Memory's Voices". Kidson was a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines in Western Australia, particularly during World War I and the decade that followed. She and Charles F. J. North also published some songs, with Kidson's lyrics and North's music.

== Biography == Mary Amelia Doyle was born in 1858 in Nassau, Bahamas, the daughter of Sir William Henry Doyle<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=1942-08-11 |title=Family Notices |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47343163 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=West Australian |pages=1}}</ref> and his wife Mary Johnson.<ref name=":22">{{Cite news |date=1 May 1879 |title=Obituary (The Death of Sir William Henry Doyle) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/33114468 |url-access=subscription |work=The Times |location=London, England |pages=10}}</ref> Sir William was a Bahamian lawyer and Member of Parliament who became Chief Justice of the Bahamas (1865–1875) and later Chief Justice of the Leeward Islands (1875) and Chief Justice of Gibraltar (1877–1879).<ref name=":22" /> Following her father's death in 1879, Mary and her mother, Lady Doyle, moved to Western Australia<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Austlit |title=May Kidson (Biography) |url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A35196 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.austlit.edu.au |language=en}}</ref> in 1886 where her cousin, Francis A. Moseley, was the Registrar of Titles, later the Master of the Supreme Court.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Evette |date=1939-06-11 |title=Life and Memory Are May Kidson's Inspiration |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/59007455?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Sunday Times |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=27}}</ref>

In 1888, Mary married Charles Barclay Kidson. He was a judge's associate and later became the first Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia. His brother was Alfred Bowman Kidson.

Mary and Charles had two sons, Noel Doyle Kidson (b. 1888) and Edric Doyle Kidson (b. 1893).<ref name=":0" /> Both boys enlisted in the early days of World War I and were part of the forces that landed at Gallipoli. Edric died during the Gallipoli landing in April 1915 and Noel was injured.

Kidson died in Cottesloe on 9 August 1942; she was 84.<ref name=":0" />

== Career == Kidson published under the names M.K. and May Kidson. She was the author of at least 52 works.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Austlit |title=Works by May Kidson |url=https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A35196?mainTabTemplate=agentWorksBy&restrictToAgent=A35196 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.austlit.edu.au |language=en}}</ref> Kidson was a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines in Western Australia, particularly during WWI and the 1920s.

In 1939, the Sunday Times (Perth) wrote "There are many people in Western Australia who have known and loved the delightful poetry from May Kidson's pen, and. who have admired the forceful verse which she wrote during the war years. Her work has created a bond of friendship, intangible perhaps, but one which has bound her to our shores and hearts as a poet of our Western State."<ref name=":2" />

One of her poems was presented to Queen Elizabeth when the latter was a baby.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1933-02-04 |title=To Princess Elizabeth of York. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260287459 |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=Narrogin Observer |location=Narrogin, Western Australia |pages=1}}</ref> Another poem, Ode to Welcome, was presented to the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=1920-07-10 |title=Thanks and Acknowledgements. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27780735 |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=West Australian |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=7}}</ref> Kidson received an acknowledgment from the prince's private secretary who revealed that the prince had also perused her collection, Memory's Voice, while staying at Government House.<ref name=":4" />

== Published works == ''<small>This following is an incomplete list of the works of May Kidson (please help by adding to it):</small>''

=== Songs === * ''[https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/1751002 Kitchener's Message to Australia]'' - lyrics by May Kidson, music by Charles Frederick John North<ref name=":1" />

* ''[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-168251322/view?partId=nla.obj-168251333#page/n0/mode/1up Memory Mine] -'' lyrics by May Kidson, music by Charles J. F. North<ref name=":1" /> * [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3425460 Your Love] - lyrics by May Kidson, music by Charles J. F. North * The Sower - lyrics by May Kidson, music by Charles J. F. North<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kidson |first=May |last2=North |first2=Charles Frederick John |date=1914 |title=Copyright registration for the Musical Work "The Sower" |url=https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3425459 |access-date=21 April 2025 |website=National Archives of Australia}}</ref>

=== Poetry === In 1918, Kidson released a book of poems called ''[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52777018/view?partId=nla.obj-91314003#page/n7/mode/1up Memory's Voices],''<ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-05-17 |title=Our Bookshelf: May Kidson's Poems: Reviewed by Vigilant. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148244345?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Westralian Worker |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=2}}</ref> which was dedicated to her son Edric who had died in action,<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1918-06-17 |title=Memory's Voices (A review) |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/27480953?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=West Australian |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-05-18 |title=A Matter of Boots. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/81761400 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Daily News |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-05-10 |title=Reviews |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92829398 |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=Kalgoorlie Miner |location=Western Australia |pages=1}}</ref> and included the poem ''You and I''.<ref name=":2" /> Demand for the book was so high that a second print run was ordered.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1918-08-23 |title=News & Notes |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37454113 |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=Western Mail |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=21}}</ref>

Kidson was also a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines. The following are some of her contributions: * The Mother's Battalion (1915)<ref name=":2" /><ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1915-07-04 |title=The Mother's Battalion. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/57801675 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Sunday Times}}</ref> * Faith's Crown (1916)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |date=1916-01-07 |title=Faith's Crown. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/148341728 |access-date=2025-04-23 |last=Kidson |first=May|work=Westralian Worker |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=4}}</ref> * America To-day (1917)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1917-04-27 |title=Original Verse. America To-day. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37989345 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Western Mail}}</ref> * Granma's Kiddie (1918)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1918-10-04 |title=Granma's Kiddie. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37601858 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Western Mail}}</ref> * Just Baby (1919)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1919-05-16 |title=Just Baby. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37611295?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Western Mail |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=37}}</ref> * Baby's Photograph: A Mother's Rhyme (1920)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1920-09-02 |title=Baby's Photograph |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37469996 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Western Mail}}</ref> * The New Memory (1921)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1921-01-13 |title=The New Year Memory. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37475776 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Western Mail}}</ref> * The Immigrant (1921)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1920-09-02 |title=The Immigrant |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/37469996?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Western Mail |location=Perth, Western Australia}}</ref> * Wedding Blossoms (1921)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1921-08-25 |title=Wedding Blossoms. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38864867?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Western Mail |pages=30}}</ref> * The Mother's Prayer (1922)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1922-02-23 |title=The Mother's Prayer. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38872648 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Western Mail |pages=30}}</ref><ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1922-02-23 |title=The Mother's Prayer |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/38872648?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Western Mail |pages=30}}</ref> * Music at Life's Millstones (1923)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1923-03-22 |title=Music at Life's Milestones |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44759664 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Western Mail}}</ref> * Words (1925)<ref group=mk>{{Cite news |date=1925-09-18 |title=Words. |last=Kidson |first=May|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/259324612 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Eastern Recorder |location=Kellerberrin, Western Australia |pages=3}}</ref> * Sunbeams (1927)<ref group=mk>{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1927-01-23 |title=Sunbeams |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58316505?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Sunday Times |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=38}}</ref> * Soul of Dawning (1933)<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 October 1932 |title=(The October Issue of the Berlei Review) |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32587607 |access-date=2025-05-07 |work=The West Australian |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=5}}</ref> * The Unknown Way (1933)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1933-01-07 |title=The Unknown Way.(1933) |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260286936?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Narrogin Observer |location=Western Australia}}</ref> * The Last Boy May Count (1933),<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |date=1933-05-27 |title=“The Last Boy May Count” |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/260289689 |access-date=2025-04-23 |last=Kidson |first=May|work=Narrogin Observer}}</ref> which was approved by Lord Baden Powell * The Woman's Victoria Cross (1937)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1937-04-11 |title=The Woman's Victoria Cross. |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58821687 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Sunday Times |pages=13}}</ref> * Voices, A Reverie (1941)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1941-01-12 |title=Voices |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58960345 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Sunday Times}}</ref> * When Memory Calls (1941)<ref group=mk>{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1941-01-26 |title=When Memory Calls |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58961022 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Sunday Times |location=Perth, Western Australia |pages=20}}</ref> * Ageless (1941)<ref group="mk">{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1941-02-02 |title=Ageless! |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58961285?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-23 |work=Sunday Times}}</ref> * The Larger Day (1942)<ref group=mk>{{Cite news |last=Kidson |first=May |date=1940-09-29 |title=The Larger Day |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58984252?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=Sunday Times |pages=8}}</ref> * The Bush Message<ref name=":2" />

== Secondary sources == {{reflist}}

== Primary sources == <small>{{reflist|group=mk}}</small>

== Bibliography == * Austlit. "[https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A35196 May Kidson | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories]". ''www.austlit.edu.au''. Retrieved 2025-04-21. *"[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58250565?searchTerm=%22may%20kidson%22 Our Westralian Poetess]", Sunday Times (Perth, Western Australia), Sunday, 10 Oct 1926, Page 36

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kidson, May}} Category:1858 births Category:1952 deaths Category:People from Nassau, Bahamas Category:20th-century Australian writers Category:20th-century Australian women writers