The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand is a six-volume New Zealand encyclopedia , the volumes of which were consecutivelypublishedin New Zealand between 1897 and 1908. Each volume is dedicated to a province of New Zealand and contains information about cities, districts, offices or ministries of the government, as well as about politicians and other people who are important for the history of the settlement, as well as about companies, societies and associations.

history

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand was initiated by Arthur McKee , a photo-engraver, printer and newspaper maker from Liverpool , England , and his partner, Gamble , whose identity is unknown. The third co-owner and director of the company was JR Randerson . Presumably the three gentlemen founded the Cyclopedia Company in Wellington together with the intention of publishing an encyclopedia about New Zealand.

In the run-up to the publication of the first volume, however, there were difficulties due to the size of the work. In April 1896 600 pages had already been completed, but there were irritations regarding the scope of the work, the planned publication and the relocation of the company. It was estimated at the time that the volume would contain twice the number of pages already completed. On October 10, 1896, the editor of the Wanganui Herald already had the opportunity to take a look at the work and praised it in his article.

The publication of the first volume on the province of Wellington followed in 1897 and had 1,525 pages. After the release, McKee split from the company and started his own company. That must have been the time when the company moved to Christchurch , because Volume 2 on the province of Auckland was already published at 153 Manchester Street in Christchurch .

The editors of the first volume stated in their foreword that they intended to document the facts regarding the settlement of New Zealand and the development of the colony with their work. However, deviating from their goals, public figures contributed to the design of the content by providing data on their history and personal details. The information they provided was as accurate as their memories and honesty allowed. Portraits were often beautified and articles about companies such as advertising were written. Articles about women, Māori or non-Europeans were almost absent in the works. Nevertheless, the six volumes give an insight into colonial life in New Zealand at the turn of the century and also describe settlements that would otherwise not have been mentioned in any newspaper or publication.

Available online

The Victoria University of Wellington began scanning the individual volumes in 2008 and making them available to the public online in electronic form via the New Zealand Electronic Text Collection Internet portal . The university described the project itself as a big project, because the first volume with its 1525 pages already weighed 5.1 kilograms. The complete digitization of all volumes was completed in 2008.

The individual volumes

  • Wellington Provincial District . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Volume I . Cyclopedia Company Ltd , Wellington 1897.
  • Auckland Provincial District . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Volume II . Cyclopedia Company Ltd , Christchurch 1902.
  • Canterbury Provincial District . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Volume III . Cyclopedia Company Ltd , Christchurch 1903.
  • Otago and Southland Provincial District . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Volume IV . Cyclopedia Company Ltd , Christchurch 1905.
  • Nelson, Marlborough and Westland Provincial District . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Volume V . Cyclopedia Company Ltd , Christchurch 1906.
  • Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Wellington Provincial District . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Volume VI . Cyclopedia Company Ltd , Christchurch 1908.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ TP Williams : The Cyclopedia Company . In: Manawatu Herald . Foxton April 14, 1896, p.  3 (English, online [accessed February 9, 2017] letter to the editor).
  2. ↑ Interesting Statements . In: Wanganui Herald . Volume XXX, Issue 8979 . Wanganui October 10, 1896, p.  2 (English, online [accessed February 9, 2017]).
  3. ^ FR McKee : McKee, Arthur . In: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Volume 3 . Auckland University Press , Auckland 1996 ( online [accessed February 9, 2017]).
  4. ↑ Peter Walters : Wellington Decorators 1897 - A selection of historical paint references . Surfaces Coatings Association New Zealand , accessed February 9, 2017 .
  5. ^ The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . In: New Zealand Electronic Text Collection . Victoria University of Wellington Library , accessed February 9, 2017 .
  6. ^ The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . In: New Zealand Electronic Text Collection . Victoria University of Wellington Library , October 3, 2008, accessed February 9, 2017 (blog entry).