General correspondence file, 1936-1940. Includes authorisations to inspect Land Court records, correspondence concerning early NZ records held by individuals in England, JR's reports to NZ High Commissioner concerning these manuscripts (Stafford and Felton Mathew papers). Also includes correspondence concerning manuscripts held in NZ, including diaries of Lieutenant Doyne Vigors [George?] Dennistoun and Col. A.H. Russell, letters of R.S.F. Parsons, Isaac Shepherd and manuscripts of Henry Weekes. Some official correspondence concerning Historical Research Committee. Invitation from Prime Minister to Waitangi Day celebrations, 1940 and programme of same. Manuscript, typescript and cyclostyled, 50 items., 1936 - 1940
Scope and Contents
The Centennial Act of 1938 set up numerous committees to organise and publicise the celebration of New Zealand's centennial in 1940. One of these was the National Historical Committee, which was responsible for the publication of books and surveys, including the Dictionary of New Zealand biography (published 1940), the Centennial Surveys and a proposed comprehensive historical atlas of NZ, to be called the Centennial Atlas. The Government appealed to the public to make available to the Historical Research Committee old manuscripts and documents, and Rutherford was responsible for investigating a number of these collections, both in NZ and England (where he travelled in 1937-38). Research for the atlas continued for many years but publication was finally abandoned in 1952 in favour of a general atlas of New Zealand.
Dates
- 1936 - 1940
Creator
- From the Collection: Auckland Provincial Centennial Council. Historical Research Committee (Organization)
- From the Collection: Mair, Gilbert (Person)
- From the Collection: Dillon, Constantine Augustus (Person)
- From the Collection: Rutherford, J. (James) (Person)
- From the Collection: Clendon, James Reddy (Person)
- From the Collection: Sewell, Henry (Person)
- From the Collection: Mathew, Felton (Person)
- From the Collection: Hobbs, John (Person)
- From the Collection: Russell, Andrew Hamilton (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Not restricted
Extent
From the Collection: 2.9 metres (29 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections, University of Auckland Repository
5 Alfred Street
Private Bag 92019
Auckland 1142 New Zealand
specialcollections@auckland.ac.nz