THE ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM

Ahundred years ago, in 1923, the building that now houses the College’s Archives and Museum was in the process of being built as an on-site residence for the Headmaster. A ceremony on 25 June, laid the foundation stone of the new College Buildings. Several other buildings were under construction including Firth House, Firth Dining Hall, the Cricket Pavilion and the Gifford Observatory. All opened in 1924, the College’s 50th Jubilee year of opening on our current site in 1874.

In 2010, with the Headmaster’s house no longer required, the College Archives finally found a home. Paddianne Neely who was our Archivist from 1990 to 2017 had the daunting task of moving the College Archives eleven times over that period. Since 2010, the College Archives has continued to rapidly grow with donated items, displays and visits.

While the last few years has seen some restrictions for visits due to the building’s current earthquake rating, the last six months has seen a significant interest in short term visits.

Already this year we have hosted visits and morning tea for new staff and the Prefects. Some Y9 classes have begun their introduction to the College’s history as well as the new Y10 students.

In meantime, our few hours a week are filled recording and filing our collection, hosting visits by Old Boys and preparing a variety of displays. This includes a new display of some notable Old Boys near the College's Girvan Library (an ongoing project). Displays are also being prepared for hosting June’s Quadrangular Rugby Tournament and several Old Boy reunions in October and November.

Earlier this year, we found an old original page from a paper called the The Weekly News And New Zealand Referee dated September 6, 1923. This was a page of photographs from the 1923 Triangular Tournament between Wellington College, Whanganui Collegiate and Christ’s College.

We have attempted to enhance and colourise one of the photos; difficult with newspaper photos but the result does bring out some of the detail.

We have been fortunate to receive a donation from Richard Boag (OBA Executive and Class of 1981) of his book scanner which allows us to rapidly scan books and magazines. This will allow us to complete our scanning of Wellingtonians over the coming months (perhaps a bit longer).

So much of this work would be impossible without the support of our volunteers, Abbey and Gary Girvan and of Steph Kane, Ted Thomas (WCOBA President) and the Property Staff, Kelwyn D’Sousa and Roy Smith.

Mike Pallin, Archivist