NOTES AND COMMENTS

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 8, Issue 2, 1 October 1975, Page 61

NOTES AND COMMENTS

EXHIBITIONS

John Gully Prints On 6 March, at a preview of the Library’s 1974 prints, Sir Alister Mclntosh introduced the guest speaker, Dr Charles Fleming, 0.8. E., F.R.S. An exhibition mounted for the launching illustrated the relationship between the scientist and the artist by means of letters, publications, photographs and sketches and watercolours by von Haast as well as Gully.

Legal documents and George Cruikshank During the N.Z. Law Society Conference in Wellington a special exhibition was mounted for a month. Two large perspex panels suspended from the ceiling displayed parchment legal documents ranging from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Most were in Latin and of English origin but one of particular New Zealand interest was Edward Gibbon Wakefield’s marriage settlement of 1818. On the walls and in the show-cases were many colourful examples of the published work of George Cruikshank (1792-1872), the political caricaturist and social satirist.

Maps from Australia While visiting Australia in March 1975 Mr Rowling was presented by Mr Whitlam with 7 rare, early Pacific maps and 2 early New Zealand prints. These were a gift to the New Zealand people from the people of Australia and came from duplicate items in the National Library of Australia which in 1973 had purchased the great Tooley collection of 1560 Pacific and Australian maps. A brief presentation ceremony was held on 22 April when the Prime Minister handed the maps to Sir Alister Mclntosh for the Library.

Photographs of early Wellington In May there was an exhibition of early Wellington photographs. It showed the city as it was, with its scattered houses and shops, the shipping and transport of 100 years ago. Examples of the work of the first professional photographers like George Swan and James Bragge were included, with early equipment and ornate albums.

Women in New Zealand As part of the Library’s contribution to International Women’s Year an exhibition was mounted using material from the manuscript, book and periodical, ephemera, art and photograph collections. The main aim of the exhibition was to present the type of records made by women and which have been preserved. A New Zealand Women’s History Research Collection has been sponsored by the Library and it is hoped to attract more original material of local and national interest including diaries and letters of individuals, correspondence and minutes of organisations, photographs, reminiscences, paintings, scrapbooks or any other material of historical significance. This would help to meet the growing demand for research material on women.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AT THE ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY Collecting primary research material on a particular subject has presented problems for archivists and libraries throughout the world. The problems are accentuated when the material is very recent or owned and created by a large cross section of the population. In an attempt to overcome some of these problems the Alexander Turnbull Library is starting a number of named special subject collections and concentrating publicity around them. The first was the Archive of New Zealand Music and more recently the War History Documentation Centre (WARDOCUMENT) and the Women’s History Research Centre have been created.

The War History Documentation Centre came into existence early in 1975 because of a demand by scholars for material on New Zealand’s war activities. While the National Archives holds the official records of New Zealand participation in wars during the past century and the Library holds an extensive collection of diaries, letters, books, newspapers and photographs it was apparent that much material was still in private hands. For this reason the National Archives of New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library have combined to form WARDOCUMENT. Efforts to publicize this effort have come through press releases during Anzac Weekend, an article in the RSA Review and two appearances by the Chief Librarian on Radio New Zealand. This publicity has brought forth many new collections covering New Zealand participation in the Boer War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Material is still coming into the Library and we would appreciate the help and cooperation of the Friends in this project.

While International Women’s Year focused attention on women in New Zealand and throughout the world it brought to our attention a lack of documentation about women in this country. While the Library’s sources are not small: more than two hundred manuscript collections, hundreds of books, periodicals and pamphlets and thousands of photographs; the need for a stronger National Collection was apparent. The Women’s History Research Collection plans to collect diaries, letters, photographs, pamphlets and scrapbooks of women as well as the records of women’s organizations. Two significant manuscript collections have already come to the library' as a result of this effort: Records of the Maori Women’s Welfare League and the National Council of Women.

In order to pinpoint collections of individual and organizational records a number of consultants have been appointed who will advise the Chief Librarian. This practice follows a precedent begun with the Archive of New Zealand Music. A major effort to publicize and add material to the Research Collection will begin in the next few months.

NOTES ON CONTRIBUTORS Dr R. D. J. Collins, Dept, of French, University of Otago is making an extensive study of Charles Meryon’s years in the Pacific and their subsequent influence on his life and work. Dr J. R. Tye, Reader in English at Victoria University of Wellington is investigating aspects of the life and poetry of Lord De Tabley.

Professor Douglas Cole is Associate Professor of History at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia.

NEW PUBLICATIONS New Greetings Cards The Friends have published two new greetings cards: Auckland from the Domain, 1863, from a watercolour by an unknown artist, 30 cents each (in colour) ; and a charming study of a pioneer woman at her wash-tub, in May 1846, from a pen sketch in William Bambridge’s MS. Journal, 20 cents each (black and white). PLEASE NOTE THAT NO DISCOUNT IS AVAILABLE ON ANY OF THE FRIENDS’ GREETINGS CARDS.

New Turnbull Library Prints The 1975 Prints are now available: Colonial Wellington —three colour prints reproduced from watercolours by Barraud, Wallace and Brees, showing respectively views from Brooklyn across Te Aro and Thorndon (different from the earlier issue of Barraud’s 1861 view);

from Thorndon foreshore across toward Petone; and from the Hutt Road toward Petone and the Hutt Valley. $3 each or $lO the set of 3 in folder illustrated by a fourth print in colour. (10% discount to Friends). A leaflet illustrating these prints has been issued as a supplement to the 1975 catalogue of prints and other publications; free on request.