Geraldine Moodie

Geraldine Moodie (31 October 1854 – 1945) was a pioneering Canadian photographer who opened studios in Battleford, Saskatchewan (1891), Maple Creek (1897), and Medicine Hat, Alberta (1897).

Geraldine Moodie was born in Toronto on October 31, 1854 to Agnes and Charles Fitzgibbon. She married John Douglas Moodie in England in 1878 and they had six children. They returned to Canada and briefly farmed in Manitoba, then moved to Ottawa, and in 1885 her husband received a commission with the North-West Mounted Police. She is best known for her work with Aboriginal peoples in the North-West Territories.

Living in rural Canada at the turn of the twentieth century, she found herself living in a world of male dominance and a lack of women with notable social status. Despite this adversity, she was far more successful and influential than her metropolitan counterparts.

She was born in Toronto, Canada West. 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). She also took photographs around Regina (1910–1911). 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.

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

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

See North of Ordinary, The Arctic Photographs of Geraldine and Douglas Moodie, at the Glenbow Museum, February - September 2017