Born

28 September 1853
Posen, Prussia (Poland)

Died

1 August 1931
North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Occupation

Bookseller, Feminist and Political activist

Alternative Names

• Bredt, Matilda Emilie Bertha (married name)
• Kalkstein, Matilda Emilie Bertha (maiden name)
• McNamara, Bertha (also known as)

Summary

Bertha McNamara's experience as a widow trying to rear six children prompted her interest in radical politics. She published pamphlets on socialism and with her second husband, William McNamara, opened a radical bookshop in Castlereagh Street in Sydney in the 1890s. She was a member of the Social Democratic Federation of Australasia and of the Womanhood Suffrage League of New South Wales. In addition she was a founder of the Labor Women's Central Organising Committee.

Sources used to compile this entry: Burgmann, Verity, 'McNamara, Matilda Emilie Bertha (1853-1931)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography Online, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100341b.htm.