The National Library is digitising selected collections from its photographic archive of 4.9 million photographs and negatives. Held by the Alexander Turnbull Library, these pictures capture moments in New Zealand and Pacific history, and show lives once led.
As the photographs are digitised they are being showcased online through the Library’s new online channel, National Library Beta.
Collection selection
More than 50 photograph collections totalling over half a million images have been selected from the Alexander Turnbull Library’s photographic archive. These collections have been identified as having high interest and in demand by picture researchers, iwi, publishers, educators and individuals.
Project update - November 2011
Fifteen photograph collections are currently being processed from the Alexander Turnbull Library’s photographic archive.
To date more than 150,000 photographic negatives have been digitised, and at least half of these have been re-housed into new archival enclosures to increase their longevity, and 1,000 of these have been given conservation treatment. The digitisation process includes necessary preservation processes to support collection management. By April 2012 over 150,000 photographs will be made available online.
Full production has been underway for 19 months, and over 100,000 photographs from the following collections are now available online:
Crown Studios Ltd – 23,440 photographs
Sporting, school, professional group portraits, portraits and general views around Wellington, taken in the 1920s to the 1970s taken by Crown Studios Ltd. Includes team and individual photographs of All Blacks and other rugby teams, cricketers, surf life-savers, boxers, wrestlers, speedway motorcyclists. Includes portraits of people from a range of ethnicities.
K E Niven – 22,000 photographs
Photographs taken by K E Niven and Co, commercial and industrial photographers of Wellington, from the 1940s to the 1970s. Subjects covered include retail items such as new appliances and household accessories, home and garden furniture, and clothing.
Whites Aviation – 45,000 photographs (45,000 more in process)
Photographs taken by Leo White and Whites Aviation Ltd, from about 1920 to 1988. Extensive general coverage of New Zealand, the Pacific and Antarctica from air and ground. Includes aviation history & portraits, pioneers, NZPAF & RNZAF, airlines, personalities. Some sport, shipping, industrial, farm and rural activities.
William James Harding - 6,561 photographs
Landscapes, street scenes and portraits of the Wanganui district taken from around 1860 to 1890 by the studio of William James Harding, Wanganui. Includes portraits of military personnel.
Duncan Winder – 5,375 photographs
Architectural photographs, mostly of houses and other buildings in the Wellington region, taken around 1962 to 1970 by Duncan Winder.
Steffano Webb – 1,600 photographs
Photographs of Canterbury region taken from around 1880 to 1920 by Steffano Webb studio. Mainly Christchurch photographs of housing, costumes, commercial premises, and general New Zealand scenes and towns.
Daniel Manders Beere - 861 photographs
Includes photographs of Waikato War encampments and battle sites, railway construction and scenes in the Auckland, Waikato and Gisborne districts from 1863 to 1905.
Samuel Heath Head – 642 photographs
Photographs, taken by Samuel Heath Head, mainly of Christchurch from the 1890s to 1930s, but including general views of New Zealand towns and scenery, housing, motor vehicles and railways.
