Born: 23 April 1839, Italy
Died: Unknown
Country most active: Malta
Also known as: Adelaide Anceschi
Adelaide Conroy was a notable photographer based in Malta from 1871 to 1879.
Born on April 23, 1839, in Reggio d’Emilia, Italy, to Pompilio Anceschi and Rosa Bolondi, Adelaide embarked on a journey that led her to Malta. Alongside James Conroy, his first wife Sara, their newborn Jane, and Richard Ellis, she arrived in Malta from Messina on the ship Capitole on April 9, 1861. The course of her life took a significant turn on May 17, 1872, when she married James now widowed, in the Anglican Cathedral, Valletta.
Adelaide’s contribution to photography flourished when, from 1875 onwards, she operated in the Conroy studio. It is noteworthy that while the studio was attributed to English photographers, available records indicate Maltese and French photographers in practice at that time. Adelaide Conroy’s photography legacy remains a part of Malta’s historical visual documentation during the late 19th century.