Cuthbert family papers.

Collection

Identifier: MSS -Archives-2003/6

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains copies of correspondence and photographs relating to Robert Cuthbert's employment with the Pacific Cable Board as a telegraph operator and station manager.

The photographs of Fanning Island include images of cable station buildings and employees, the German attack on Fanning Island in September 1914, and a sports carnival held on Fanning Island during the 1920s to mark Empire Day. The photographs can be divided into two sets one dating from the early 1900s and the other from the 1920s. The earlier photographs probably relate to Robert's father David’s role in the establishment of the Cable Station.

The Norfolk Island photograph date from the early 1900s and include images of local sporting and social events, convict era ruins, Kingston and coastal scenery.

A complete set of references prints are available for viewing in the Special Collections Reading Room and a selection of images can be viewed on the Libraries and Learning Services website under local digital collections as the Cuthbert Collection. .

Dates

1902 - 1933

Creator

Pacific Cable Board (Organization)
Cuthbert, Robert (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Not restricted.

Biographical / Historical

Robert Cuthbert (1885-1963) was born in County Kerry Ireland. His father David Cuthbert (1858-1936) was a Sottish telegraph clerk who worked at the Ballinskelligs Transatlantic Cable Station.

Robert followed his father’s footsteps and by age 17 was working as a telegraph clerk at Bellinskelligs. Robert Clark was employed by the Pacific Cable Board (PCB) from ca 1909 until the early 1930s. His father, David, and younger brother Percy were also employees of the PCB. David was involved in the establishment of the cable station at Fanning Island in 1902 and was the superintendent at the Bamfield Cable Station, Vancouver, Canada, during the First World War.

Robert married Jean Anderson, the daughter of the Melanesian Mission’s head carpenter, on Norfolk Island in 1913. The couple lived at various cable stations and had four children Margaret born in 1916, died in Auckland 1920, Martin Robert born in Suva in 1918, Doris Olive born in Auckland 1920 and David Alexander who was born on Fanning Island in 1927.

After Robert’s retirement the family resided in Auckland where he died in 1963.

Extent

0.04 metres (3 folders and 9 CDs in Media cabinet)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Photographs made available for reproduction by Mrs Doris Hinton (nee Cuthbert) in September 2003. Papers made available for copying by Lynne McDonald (Mrs Hinton's niece) in September 2003.