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A good place to be: Auckland Museum people, 1929-89
A good place to be: Auckland Museum people, 1929-89 is a new book written and published by former Auckland Museum Librarian Ian Thwaites. It is full of anecdotes and biographical history providing a record of memories and accomplishments of those who contributed to this well-regarded institution.
There were several reasons Ian chose to write this book, the main being to honour the many Auckland Museum personalities, employees and volunteers. He found little documentation existed aside from that of well-known figures, such as former Museum director Sir Gilbert Archey and former Museum botanist Lucy Cranwell.
The book covers a sixty year period beginning with the creation of the current Museum building on the Auckland Domain until Ian’s retirement from the Museum in 1989, and features a chapter on the Museum’s first Librarian Enid Evans.
A good place to be was printed for the author, and is a 500+ page volume illustrated by many portraits of Museum people through the years.
The Auckland Museum library has several copies to browse in the Reading Room. Copies can be purchased directly from the author via the below order form.
About the author
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Ian Thwaites was librarian at Auckland War Memorial Museum from 1970 until 1989 when he took early retirement. He holds a BA from Victoria University and the Diploma of the NZ Library School. His library career includes experience in Wellington at the Alexander Turnbull, Victoria University and General Assembly Libraries. As an ANZAC Fellow in 1977 Ian studied museum and historical research libraries in Australia. He has served on many associations and societies including the Kinder House Society Management Committee since its inception in 1981. In 1990 he was made an Honorary Member of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists Inc. In 2008 he became an Honorary Life Member of the Auckland Museum Institute.
His publications include In Another Dimension: Auckland Bookplates, 1920-60 – the first major monograph on New Zealand bookplates, Biographical Journeys: 100 Favourite Bookplates, We Learnt to See: Elam’s Rutland Group, 1935-58 (with Rie Fletcher) and In Affectionate Remembrance, a biographical study of the four sisters of Rev Dr John Kinder.