Bessie Guthrie

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BESSIE JEAN THOMPSON GUTHRIE (1905 - 1977)

Clive Guthrie who was involved with the Workers Art Club was Bessie's second husband.

Bessie Mitchell was reared by maiden aunts at 97 Derwent Street Glebe where she lived until her death. She trained in design at East Sydney Technical College and worked as a modernist interior designer. Increasingly bohemian and left-wing, she became friendly with Dulcie Deamer. In 1939 Bessie established Viking Press which closed in 1943 because of a paper shortage. She became a feminist and campaigner for children’s rights, and in 1974 helped set up Australia’s first Women’s Refuge.

In 1935 Bessie married divorcee Ivar Ralph Michael Russell, a tailor; they divorced in 1937. On 30 June 1950 at the Glebe district registrar's office she married divorcee Clive Guthrie. Bessie worked as a clerk in the NSW Government Insurance Office from 1952 until her retirement in 1972.

Bessie's close friendship with Dulcie Deamer lasted over 40 years, despite immense differences over politics, the role of women, religion and exhibitionism. The two were friendly with Rosaleen Norton (qv). Bessie nursed her husband and her friend until Clive died in 1971 and Dulcie in 1972.

Bessie Guthrie has an entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography.