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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Gladys Marks

c. 1962
Max Dupain OBE

gelatin silver photograph on paper laid down on cardboard mount (image/sheet: 47.5 cm x 40.3 cm)

Gladys Hope Marks (1883–1970), university lecturer and women's rights activist, was born in Brisbane. Educated at home, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney in 1908, against her father's wishes. She went on to teach in private schools for girls before travelling in Europe and studying phonetics in Paris and London. Back in Sydney, she was appointed acting lecturer in French at the University of Sydney in 1915, before becoming lecturer in 1921. In 1929 she was the first female to act as a head of department at the university. Throughout her life Marks supported women's rights and was active in a range of feminist groups, including the National Council of Women of New South Wales. She attended the International Women's Congress in Rome in 1914 and Copenhagen in 1924, and was president of the Australian Federation of University Women from 1930 to 1934. Marks retired from the university in 1943. In 1962 she established the Gladys Marks Travelling Scholarship, which allowed students to study in France.

Gift of Danina Dupain Anderson 2021. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program.
© Max Dupain/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Max Dupain OBE (age 51 in 1962)

Gladys Hope Marks (age 79 in 1962)

Donated by

Danina Dupain Anderson (47 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency