Pattie Fotheringhame, nee Lewis, was Sydney's first female journalist and the pioneer of photo-engraving in Sydney.
Born in Escrick, Yorkshire, she migrated to Ipswich, Queensland, with her family c. 1864, when she was around twelve years old. In 1878 she was 'discovered' by her brother-in-law W. H. Traill, the editor of the Sydney Mail, who heard her telling a story to a group of children. On learning the story was her own creation, he employed Fotheringhame to write a weekly piece for the paper. Following Traille to the Bulletin she wrote the Woman's Letter as 'Mab' for almost seven years until she married James Fotheringhame who had recently been celebrated as a hero for his conduct during the wreck of the SS Ly-ee-moon in May 1886.
Fotheringhame bought Young Australia from Louisa Lawson and she continued it for thirty years with her sister-in-law Josephine Fotheringhame. She also owned the weekly Splashes, and edited the monthly paper The Sphere for six years. She also contributed lighter pieces to The Soldier and The Commonwealth Home. During her busiest period, she was writing for six newspapers at the same time.
