Josiah Martin (teacher)

Josiah Martin (1843–1916) was a New Zealand teacher and photographer.

Martin was one of the founding members of the Grafton District School and remained headmaster their until 1874.[1] In 1875, Martin helped to set up the Auckland Model Training School, which was the first of its kind in Auckland.[2] He was also instrumental in founding the Auckland School Teachers Association in 1873 which aimed to create a national education program and fought for educational reform.[1] After some health concerns, Martin turned his attentions to photography. In 1879, he traveled to London and was introduced to rapid 'instantaneous' photography at the Royal College of Chemistry.[1] Once he returned to New Zealand, he opened a studio in Auckland.[1] Martin became well known for his topographical and ethnological photographs. He often presented these at the Auckland Photographic Club.[1]

In 1886, Martin was able to capture the eruption of Mt Tarawera on camera.[1] These photographs were published in the Auckland Evening Star. Martin has also been published in the Auckland Weekly News,[3] New Zealand Illustrated[4] and exhibited photographs at the Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford.[1] In 1886, he was part of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition and was awarded a gold medal in 1889 for his work in the Exposition Coloniale in Paris.[1] Martin's photographs appeared in the French illustrated press through the photo-agency Chusseau-Flaviens.[5]

Martin was an active lecturer, not only on photography matters but he also had an interest in geological and physiological subjects.[1] He was editor of Sharlands New Zealand Photographer and a founding member of the Auckland Society of Arts.[1] Martin served on the Auckland Institute Council from 1881-1892 and was the President of the Council in 1889.[6] After his death in 1916, many of Martin's photographic collections were donated to the Auckland War Memorial Museum.[6]