Friends of the Turnbull Library

Turnbull Library Record, Volume 11, Issue 1, 1 May 1978, Page 58

Friends of the Turnbull Library

I. McL. Wards President.

Annual Report for 1976177

membership The number of financial members is now approximately 900.

SCOLAR press facsimiles During the year the Friends made a handsome gift to the Library of Scolar Press facsimiles of three of William Caxton’s books which were produced to mark the quincentenary of the establishment of the first printing press in England in 1476.

meetings The Annual General Meeting was held on 28 June and after formal business Dr Peter Walls of the English Department of Victoria University gave an erudite and lively talk on “Insubstantial pagaents preserved: literary and musical sources for the Stuart masque”. The lecture was illustrated by tape recordings ofcontemporary music and songs sung by Dr Walls. On 26 August Mrs Paul, Art Librarian, spoke to a well-attended meeting about the art collection. Her theme was the prints, drawings and paintings collected by Turnbull himself and the occasion provided a rare opportunity to see a wide selection of paintings from the Art Room.

Dr Conrad Swan, York Herald of Arms, gave an interesting lecture on 3 November on the heraldry of Shakespeare, illustrated with some excellent colour slides. Professor Arthur Pollard of the English Department of Hull University spoke on 14 February about the political novels of Anthony Trollope. The final meeting for the year was held on 27 April when Dr Gerda Bell and Mr Peter Russell of the German Department of Victoria University spoke on Ernest Dieffenbach. Dr Bell described her research for her recently published biography of Dieffenbach and Peter Russell read excerpts from Dieffenbach’s Travels in New Zealand.

THE turnbull house A public appeal for funds was widely supported. The plan adopted by the Turnbull House Council, that refurbishing begin on the ground floor, will be begun when the

Library vacates rooms being used for storage. Meanwhile exhibitions have been staged by the Thorndon Society, the Wellington Water Colourists’ Society and the Weavers and Spinners Society. A lease for a restaurant on the ground floor is being concluded. A permanent secretary, Miss Mary McNicol, has been appointed.

the Turnbull library record Mr A. G. Bagnalfs extended term as editor ended in September 1976. The Society owes Mr Bagnall a very great deal for successfully making of the Record one of the most highly esteemed journals in the country. Mr Traue has succeeded Mr Bagnall as editor and has the approval of the committee for plans for updating the format and appearance of the Journal. The changes will not be made until 1978.

the committee I wish to thank all committee members for their support during the year, and to acknowledge the great debt of all of us to the Secretary, Miss Margery Walton, and the Treasurer, Miss Darea Sherratt, for their competent handling of our affairs.