Sir William Jordan papers.

Collection

Identifier: MSS-Archives-A-178

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The papers include correspondence, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, speech notes, photographs, Livery Club records, and autobiographical sketches. The collection also includes the papers of Arthur W. Carr.

The following work has been incorporated into the thesis collection of the Main Library:

Koplowitz-Kent, H.S. (1945). New Zealand and the League of Nations, 1919-1939. Unpublished M.A. thesis (History), Dunedin University College.

Dates

ca. 1920-1955

Creator

Livery Club (Organization)
Carr, Arthur W (Person)
Jordan, W. J. (William Joseph) (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Sir William Joseph Jordan was born at Ramsgate, Kent on 19 May 1879. He migrated to New Zealand in 1904, and worked as a labourer in the Manawatu, Nelson and Wellington districts. He then entered business as a trader at Waihi and later moved to Ngaruawahia where he married Winifred Amy Bycroft (who died in 1950).

In 1907 he became the first secretary of the newly formed New Zealand Labour Party. He was Member of Parliament for Manukau 1921-1935, and High Commissioner for New Zealand in London 1936-1951.

At the end of his term as High Commissioner Jordan returned to Auckland, resumed his business career and served on a number of local bodies. In 1952 he married Elizabeth Ross Reid. Jordan died in Auckland on 8 April 1959.

For further information on Jordan see: Hickey, Carina. Man in his time plays many parts : life stories of William Jordan : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History at Massey University. MA Thesis, Massey University, 2003.