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Public Life Files., 1894 - 1934

 Series
Identifier: MSS. Archives. A-17. Series 3

Scope and Contents

This, the largest series in the collection, contains ninety-two record items, including twenty-three bound volumes. Although some files contain letters and other papers, the material consists principally of newspaper clippings dealing with public affairs in which Sir George was interested or took a part during his very active public life. The files that he accumulated in his parliamentary office and continued to accumulate after his resignation from the Ministry form the core of the group. Included in this series because their contents are of the same nature as the files, are the bound volumes of newspaper clippings. The record items of the series are essentially subject files, that is dossiers of classified information about public questions, or public affairs in which Fowlds participated or was the central figure.

The two principal physical types represented are office files and bound volumes. The majority of the office files are housed between Government-issue cover sheets lined with orange cloth. The units have been arranged chronologically by years. Unchassified newspaper clippings have been mounted, if necessary, and either added to existing files or made up into convenient units of miscellaneous newspaper clippings. Correspondence items and other papers have not been removed. There has been little rearrangement within the files so that in most cases the date order runs from the back to the front. The period covered is from 1894 to 1934, that is from the beginning of Sir George's political career until his death. The two columes listed as items 60 and 92 have been retained by Mr. G. M. Fowlds. The subject content of the material is multifarious, covering Sir George's interests and activities as a political aspirant, Member of Parliament, Minister of the Crown, and public figure. Some of the files were the result of his performance of a particular function or activity, whilst others were accumulated as aide-memoire about current controversies or matters of interest.

The clippings come from a wide range of New Zealand papers, and from British and South African journals. They were obtained from several sources. Some were either put aside by Fowlds himself, or sent to him by friends and relations. The majority were supplied by official agencies, such as the Advertising Department, or by a newspaper clipping service to which he subscribed. The significance of the series lies in the light that it throws upon the variety of problems faced by a man of affairs of the period, as well as upon the day-to-day political scene and the currents of ideas on social and political questions of the age in which he lived.

Dates

  • 1894 - 1934

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted

Extent

From the Collection: 8.9 metres

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections, University of Auckland Repository

Contact:
5 Alfred Street
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142 New Zealand