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1 of 1977 Helen Sutton, photo by Donald Gront, Globe and Mail, 1981

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Name	Sutton, Helen
Born	c. 1919
Affiliation	Royal Ontario Museum
Rank/Profession	Biological Photographer
Spouse	Marold Sutton
Biography	Helen Sutton (born c. 1919) was a biological photographer who was well-known for her photography of insects. She was married to doctor Marold Sutton and lived on Hurontario Street in Mississauga. While her passion was always photography as a dedicated member of the Toronto Camera Club, she also dabbled in other community pursuits. For example, she was actively involved with local Cooksville Girl Guides in the 1950s-early 1960s. In 1957, she became Lieutenant of the 1st Cooksville Cadet Company. Alongside Mary Fitzgibbon, Helen was the first leader of these Cooksville Guides. Since the mid-1950s, Cooksville and Port Credit Guides camped at Irondale, ON in a camp called Wabpashant. Helen and Mary were responsible for these camping excursions, borrowing equipment from the army. It was in this capacity that Helen learned woodcrafting and camping, but it was her lasting friendship with Mary Fitzgibbon that would be pivitol in her life. In the early 1960s, Helen left guiding behind to refocus herself on her photography. Mary worked as a teacher at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and emplored Helen to volunteer as well. Her friendship with Mary was obvious as in 1972, she is recorded as living with Mary in an apartment on Pine Cliff Drive, Mississauga, presumably after the death of her husband. As a fixture at the ROM, she made a name for herself as the person to go to for all manner of insect photography from the common fly to more rare species. Unlike other entomology photographers, she photographed all her speciments live and was known to spend long periods of time knee deep in water or thicket to get her shots.

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   Canadian Girl Guides Association Warrant for Mrs. Helen Sutton in the 1st Cooksville Cadet Company

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