Auckland Weekly News photographs online
Auckland Libraries is fast approaching the end of a project to digitise all the Auckland Weekly News photographic supplements published between 1898 and 1943. You can already see all of the photographs up to 1927 on the Heritage Images database.
The project has turned up some fascinating and intriguing images, such as an 1886 design by John Crook of Ponsonby for an airship (see below), imaginatively seen flying over central Auckland.
From the outset it was decided to digitise all the published photographs, not just those obviously relating to New Zealand. One of these images from around the world, is a rather dramatic photograph of Victor Grayson, addressing a crowd of unemployed workers at Tower Hill in London in 1908 (see below).
Inspired by this image, research has revealed that Grayson was an intriguing character. During World War I, he fought in the New Zealand forces and his digitised service records can be viewed and downloaded from Archives New Zealand. Grayson was also Labour Member of Parliament from 1907 to 1910 but during 1920 whilst based in London, he disappeared in mysterious circumstances. Lenin described Grayson as a "fiery socialist". Could Grayson's disapperance be linked to his political leanings?
It is also interesting to see that Grayson's file includes a letter of enquiry dated 1962 from life-long socialist and University of Auckland librarian, Herbert Roth. His request to view Grayson’s war records was turned down on the grounds that the file was "of a personal nature", and therefore confidential. Or perhaps the rejection was actually because of Roth’s left-wing affiliations?
Digitisation of the Auckland Weekly News will continue and the remainder of the images up to 1943 will be available online by the end of the year.
Author: Keith Giles, Photographic Collections Librarian, Sir George Grey Special Collections
The project has turned up some fascinating and intriguing images, such as an 1886 design by John Crook of Ponsonby for an airship (see below), imaginatively seen flying over central Auckland.
 |
| Ref: AWNS-19020710-1-2, Sir George Grey Special Collections |
 |
| Ref: AWNS-19081210-7-3, Sir George Grey Special Collections |
It is also interesting to see that Grayson's file includes a letter of enquiry dated 1962 from life-long socialist and University of Auckland librarian, Herbert Roth. His request to view Grayson’s war records was turned down on the grounds that the file was "of a personal nature", and therefore confidential. Or perhaps the rejection was actually because of Roth’s left-wing affiliations?
Digitisation of the Auckland Weekly News will continue and the remainder of the images up to 1943 will be available online by the end of the year.
Author: Keith Giles, Photographic Collections Librarian, Sir George Grey Special Collections
I'm looking for 2 photos from Weekly News that don't seem to be in this collection, they have on the reverse Negative Nº: C13, 178 and the other is C13, 179 dated 11 November 1909. They seem to be of a house, or 2 separate buildings in worse repair, a storm, tornado, earthquake?? They are held by the Te Kauwhata Settlers Museum, but I'm unable to find anything in the general area for that reported date.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am interested in an image from 1931 entitled "peculiar growth of kauri trees in the auckland district" a picture of multiple kauri trunks. I am doing a brief article on the felling of this stand of trees in 1933. It is possible to send me a copy of this image, with details of citation? Intended for publication in local history booklet. rogerbruceevans@gmail.com. thanks
ReplyDeleteI am trying to locate a photo of Edwin Egbert White who was killed in a freak accident near Otoko on the Gisborne-Moutohora railway. There is a photo of several people outside the Public Works Department office published in AWN of 03 MARCH 1910 where he was employed but it is unnamed unfortunately. my email is stephen.donald@xtra,co,nz
ReplyDeleteEE White was killed on 22nd April 1914 and a coroner's inquest held in Gisborne and reported,in Poverty Bay Herald of 24th April 1914
DeleteI am trying to find some cartoon work drawn by Eric Spencer Macky, artist, whilst he was working for your company about 1906. Hoping you are able to help, regards Jan Hercus. (janita.hercus@bigpond.com)
ReplyDeleteHi I’m looking for a photo of my great grandparents and grandmother who were in a cover photo on a ships deck that landed in Auckland from the Uk in 1923.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeking a photo of my late parents-in-law taken a War Brides reception in the Auckland Town Hall on 17 September 1945. Patricia Fenton, Whangarei
ReplyDelete