From Glasgow to Auckland: Family History & Library History
My grandfather John Barr (1887-1971) was the chief librarian at Auckland Public Library from 1913-1952 . Ref: Photographer unknown, John Barr, City Librarian, no location or date, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 360-10 Often called “Jack”, he was born in Glasgow, the son of a tin smith. His mother, Rebecca (née Witherington), was a mill worker before she got married. She appears to have valued education, though may not have been very literate herself. Jack started working for the Mitchell Library in Glasgow when he was 13 or 14. Jack is pictured below in this 1906 photo with fellow Mitchell Library cadet Abe Cunningham, in front of a statue donated to Glasgow by John Stewart Kennedy. Abe Cunningham later worked at the Auckland Public Library as a cataloguer. Ref: Photographer unknown, John Barr with Abe Cunningham Glasgow, 1906, from The Munro-John Barr Album (private family album) My grandmother, Jessie Isabella Mary MacPherson (1889-1979)...