John Metcalfe correspondence.

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Archives-94/3

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Photocopies of correspondence between family members John Metcalfe, his wife Ivy and daughter Elizabeth while John served as a missionary in the Solomon Islands during the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Elizabeth remained in Australia.

The letters were lent to George Carter by Metcalfe's daughter, Elizabeth Corben with the expectation that they would provide research materials for a publication. George Carter's wife, Nancy Carter, handed them on to Hugh Laracy, History Department, University of Auckland after George's death who lent the letters to the Library for photocopying with the proviso that they be returned to Elizabeth Corben after copying.

Several collections of Metcalfe papers have been microfilmed by the Pacific Manuscripts Bureau.

Dates

1920s-1940s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted

Biographical / Historical

The Rev. John R. Metcalfe (1889-1970) was born in Yorkshire and served as a Methodist missionary in the Solomon Islands for 37 years. He was appointed to the Solomon Islands in 1920 and after a brief period at Roviana he was appointed to Choiseul where he remained until 1951. During the war he served as a coastwatcher. He became chairman of the Methodist Mission in the Solomons in 1951, a post he held until he retired to Australia in 1957.