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Sir John Logan Campbell - Papers, 1806 - 1931

documentary heritage
  • Description

    This is a merged collection with several provenances. It consists of five parts:

    Part 1 -- John Logan Campbell and family (Folders 1-274, 319-332)

    This should be considered a family archive. It contains Sir John Logan Campbell's (JLC) personal papers (approximately 40%); his business papers (approximately 40%) and also an extensive collection of letters belonging to his wife Emma Campbell, daughter Winifred and other family members (approximately 20%). Of particular note are his "Reminiscences" (MS-51-1) and "My autobiography" (MS-51-2). Some documents relate to the purchase and development of land including One Tree Hill / Cornwall Park, as well as business correspondence for his businesses: Brown and Campbell (1840 - ??), Campbell and Ehrenfried, and McDermott and Campbell. It is a rich source of business and entrepreneurial history of the greater Auckland area, genealogy and family history, and JLC as an Auckland benefactor. There is also a strong collection of women's papers, exceedingly rich in social history -- a rare resource. These present a unique collection of particular interest to women's studies and social historians.

    Correspondence relating to Brown and Campbell Ltd. reflects Logan Campbell's business acumen and follows his commercial interests from the early 1840s to the late 19th century - kauri gum and timber mills; farms and land speculation. Includes letters written to John Logan Campbell by his business partner William Brown, 1856 - 1864, 1884 - 1897, James Farmer, 1892 – 1893 and John Webster, 1900 - 1911.

    Also included is correspondence between Campbell, his wife Emma and daughters Ida and Winifred while on an extended tour of Europe. Campbell had returned to New Zealand to rescue the floundering business while the women stayed on in Europe. Fortunately, Campbell kept copies of letters sent which complement the inward correspondence. There is also a sequence of letters for the period his wife and daughters stayed in Tasmania in 1875.

    The collection includes letters from James Mackelvie, one time manager of Brown and Campbell, later a renowned art collector and Auckland benefactor.

    Also landscape designer Austin Strong (New York), sculptor P.F. (Frank) Connelly (Florence, Italy) and Catherine Helen Spence, a fellow passenger on ship 'Palmyra' (1839 voyage) and later an Australian suffragette. [Deposited by the Cornwall Park Trustees in 1957. The part of the collection remains the property of the Trust. 5.55 linear metres.]

    Part 2 -- Cornwall Park Trust (Folders 275-318)

    Papers relating to the administration and development of Cornwall Park, 1899 - 1952. Some of the material predates the management by the Trust. Includes maps and plans and papers relating to lease of land, development of the park and the building on the obelisk. Reflecting Sir John's ongoing contribution to Auckland and the people of New Zealand, this collection is of particular interest to researchers of Cornwall Park, One Tree Hill and JLC. [Deposited in 1967 by the Cornwall Park Trust Board. 45cm]

    Part 3 -- Winifred Humphreys (Folders 333-346)

    Letters, personal and family papers belonging to Winifred Humphreys, daughter of Emma and John Logan Campbell. It contains a number of letters from her parents and correspondence with her financial adviser after her parent's death and family information. A strong collection of women's papers, rich in social history, especially when coupled with the John Logan Campbell and family collection. [Gifted by Alexander Turnbull Library. Date and details not yet determined (pre 1967). 40cm] Note: Winifred's diaries and notebooks, 1900-1924, are held in the Alexander Turnbull Library, MS-1040 – 1049.

    Part 4 -- Russell Cyril James Stone (Folders 347, 349)

    Notes supplied by Professor R.C.J. Stone and used during compilation of the biography of John Logan Campbell in the course of his research/study, along with photocopies of a biographical account of Campbell's life and a letter from John Logan Campbell to J. Gallagher. [Gifted by Russell Stone]

    Part 5 -- Sir Colin Campbell, 8th Baronet of Aberuchill and Kilbryde (Folders 348, 350)

    Campbell’s Bible and associated letter, plus photocopy of holograph written by JLC in his last years. [Gifted by Sir Colin Campbell, 1975]

    For further information refer to the inventory.

  • Other Id

    1265 (Presto content ID)

    MS-51 (Reference Number)

    19575 (DBTextworks system ID)

    77/56 (Registration number)

  • Department

Images and documents

Documents

Catalogue

  • Object Type
  • Name/Title
    Sir John Logan Campbell - Papers, 1806 - 1931
  • Primary Maker
  • Date
    1806-1931
  • Physical Description

    26 London boxes + 12 outsized boxes and 2 extra-outsized items (10.6 linear metres)

  • Level of Current Record
    Parent
  • Member Object

    1089 items in this collection. View all items.

  • Provenance Details
    Provenance: This collection consists four individual collections, each with its own provenance:
    (1) -- John Logan Campbell personal papers and his business enterprises. These reflect both business and social history from the 1840s to 1910. There is also a section containing Emma, Lady Campbell and (daughter) Winifred's papers. Deposited by the Sir John Logan Campbell Trust in 1957. [see Annual Report of the Auckland Institute and Museum, 1957 - 1958, p. 21]
    (2) -- A section on Cornwall Park covering the period from 1902 to 1930s. Deposited by the Sir John Logan Campbell Trust in 1957.
    (3) -- Winifred Humphrey, 1910 - 1930s. Transferred to the Auckland Museum by the Alexander Turnbull Library in the early 1960s.
    (4) -- Photocopies of documents, a single original letter and John Logan Campbell's family bible. Gifted by Sir Colin Campbell and Professor Russell Stone in 1975. [see Annual Report of the Auckland Institute and Museum, 1975-76, p. 33; and aerogramme from Russell Stone to Ian Thwaites, Librarian, Auckland Museum Library, dated 28 October 1974. MUS-2003-76, Library Correspondence "R" to "Tg", 1950-1986]
  • Public Access Text

    See also:

    (1) - Campbell and Ehrenfried Company Limited. Records. Auckland City Libraries. [Call No. NZMS 1423]

    (2) - Cornwall Park, Auckland, NZ.../ [Plan] designed by Austin Strong, Landscape architect... [Call No. G9081.G46A8:O2]

    An electronic copy of John Logan Campbell's "Reminiscences" (PDF 297 MB) and Folder 82 (PDF 99.6 MB) is available upon request. Please contact Museum Library staff for details.

  • Subject Notes
    This link will take you to the Te Ara website and R.C.J. Stone's biography of Sir John Logan Campbell:
    http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1c3/1
  • Credit Line
    On deposit from the Cornwall Park Trust Board, 1957.
  • Last Update
    07 Dec 2023
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