16 February 2011: Passing of Dame Judith Binney

The National Library notes with sadness the passing of eminent New Zealand historian, Dame Judith Binney.

Dame Judith served two terms as a Guardian/Kaitiaki of the Turnbull and is remembered fondly by National Library staff.

"The Turnbull Library has had a longstanding and fond relationship with Professor Binney, spanning several decades. She was an outstanding scholar who we were privileged to serve," said Chris Szekely, Alexander Turnbull Library Chief Librarian.

Dame Judith was Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Auckland and was awarded the Prime Minister's Lifetime Literary Achievement Award for non fiction in 2006, the same year she was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZM, later changed to a Dame Companion).

Dame Judith won the Book of the Year Award in 2010 for Encircled Lands, a history of Tuhoe 1820 to 1921, but published numerous works over a long career. Many of her books drew directly from the collections of the Turnbull.