The Friends of the Turnbull Library (FoTL) is a national organisation, supporting the work and activities of the Alexander Turnbull Library since 1939.
Titiro ki muri kia whakatika ā mua. Preserving the past to enlighten the future.
The Alexander Turnbull Library is a guardian of our heritage, a great research institution serving the general public and scholars in the fields of historical research, literary, cultural and genealogical studies. The Friends of the Turnbull Library promotes public interest in the Library’s collections and supports research and use of its collections.
See Bulletin Board to read the latest newsletter about the Friends’ activities.
Join us for an enchanting evening as familiar voices bring to life selected letters from the Alexander Turnbull Library collections. Spanning from 1856 to 1982, these letters range from the poignant to the hilarious, offering a captivating glimpse into surprising events over 126 years. This is a fundraising event, priced at $60. We urge you to support the Friends and book your tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/letters-out-loud
NEWS ALERT: FRIENDS OF THE TURNBULL LIBRARY RESEARCH GRANT
Applications now open for 2025: Closing Date: 4 October 2024. Go to our RESEARCH page for details
Go to the What’s on page to see details of what is coming up in our monthly programme of public talks. Wellington events are held at Taiwhanga Kauhau — the National Library Wellington Auditorium -entrance from Aitken Street, Thorndon.
In Auckland, talks are held at the Takapuna Library, 9 The Strand. Our last event was held on 18 September, a talk by Ryan Bodman, author of Rugby League in New Zealand
Later in the year we plan to have an address by Dame Claudia Orange, previously advertised for September but then unavoidably postponed. We will advise you of the new date for Dame Claudia when re-scheduled.
WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 5.30 PM
Taiwhanga Kauhau – the National Library Wellington Auditorium -entrance from Aitken
Street, Thorndon.
Dr Jennifer Ashton
‘Charlotte Badger, George Bruce and the Making of History’
At first appearances, Charlotte Badger and George Bruce share a similar history. After being transported to New South Wales in the early years of penal settlement, they separately washed up at the Bay of Islands, living under the protection of the same rangatira, Te Pahi, in the same year, 1806. Yet, what we know about them and their experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand differs because of the records they did, and didn’t, leave behind.
This talk looks at the contrasting histories of these two characters, how they developed and how what we know about Badger and Bruce reflects, not just the history of the early contact period in the north, but the way in which our understanding of the past itself is made.
About the speaker…
Jennifer Ashton is an Auckland-based writer and editor. In 2012 she completed a PhD at the University of Auckland. In 2022, her book Thief, Convict, Pirate, Wife: The Many Histories of Charlotte Badger was published by Auckland University Press.
Can’t make it in person?
This event will also be delivered using Zoom. You do not need to install the software to attend, you can opt to run Zoom from your browser. If you would like to join this talk please register below and we’ll send you the link to use on the day.
REGISTER FOR ZOOM LINK
…are now overdue. Please see the Join Us link above.
NOTE: If you have joined the Friends of Turnbull Library online in the past few months, and have paid your membership subscription via internet banking, PLEASE NOTE that we need your contact details. Copies of the annual journal Turnbull Library Record will be mailed to members in October. We need your postal address. Please contact us at turnbullfriends@gmail.com to supply your contact details.
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